"The Kellerstrass Way" 



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Raising Poultry 





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The Kellerstrass Way 



or 



Raising Poultry 



By Ernest Kellerstrass 



I give the purchaser of this book the right to make 
and use any and all of the appliances herein contained. The 
owner of this book may employ others to make or build any 
of the buildings or appliances. But persons who do not own 
the book have no right to use any of the plans or drawings. 



Price, $1.00 



1910 

Ernest Kellerstrass 
Kansas City, Mo. 






COPYRIGHTED 1910 

BY 

ERNEST KELLERSTRASS 



The Number of this Book is. 



(gCI.A256020 



I 



$ 

^ 

£ 



Introduction 



It has been my constant aim in writing this book to use common sense 
and to give the public as much good practical information as I possibly could, 
and remember that this book was written by a man who is out working with 
his poultry every day. It was not written by a man sitting at the desk in the 
office with a pencil, dreaming of what could be done, and if you ever visit 
my farm I hope I will have the pleasure of showing you what we actually do. 

I have been several years writing this small book, and the reason it took 
me so long was because I would not write anything until I had tried it out 
satisfactorily; and the best advice I can give anyone who is about to embark 
in the poultry business is, start small and learn it as you grow; then you 
are sure of success; and no matter what breed of chickens you start with, buy 
the best you can find. A good foundation is the main thing in any line of 
business. 

I bred my first chickens thirty-six years ago and have had considerable 
experience, and my experience has always been that the closer we stay to 
nature, the better we succeed. 

My way of raising chickens may be different from all other breeders in 
the world, but please show me one breeder who has been more successful 
than I have. There may be lots of them who can write how it should be 
done, but where is their farm and where are their chickens? All I can say is 
that I live in Missouri, and if you will visit my farm, I will "show" you chick- 
ens, and show you that we raise them by the thousands, and raise them just 
like I describe it on the following pages. 

Yours truly, 

ERNEST KELLERSTRASS. 




A FLOCtt OF- CRYSTAL WHITE ORPINGTON CHICKS ON 
ttELLERSTRASS FARM KANSAS CITY MO. 



THEY DO WELL ANYWHERE-ON A CITY LOT AS WELL AS ON THE FARM 



TO THE NEW BEGINNER 



Remember, I have been a good many years writing this book, and it 
is all by actual experience — no hot air dreams, but actual experience. 

During the summer of 1909, I made a two weeks' trip that cost me 
$150.00, but I received more than my money's worth in experience. Aboui 
two months prior to that trip, a professor of a university came to me and 
wanted to buy some of my Crystal White Orpington eggs, stating that he 
had heard so much about my famous breed of Crystal White Orpingtons, 
and after investigating the matter he believed they were the best all- 
purpose fowl in existence today for egg and meat production, as well as 
fancy. I thanked him very kindly for the compliment, but told him I 
was sorry that I did not have an egg for sale ; that every egg that would 
be laid by my hens during that season was already sold and contracted 
for at 75 cents and $2.00 apiece; and you must remember, dear reader, 
that I had about twelve hundred laying hens on the farm at that time. 
But I finally told him that I knew of a breeder of whom he might secure 
some eggs, and I gave him the breeder's address. He sent and purchased 
some eggs and placed them in an incubator. In a little over three weeks 
he called me up over the long distance 'phone and told me that he had 
hatched out about one hundred and eighty of the nicest chicks he had 
ever seen, and you can rest assured that I was very much pleased, because 



THE KELLERSTKASS WAY 



I had recommended him to this so-called breeder. But in another week 
he called me up over the 'phone and told me that he had lost over one 
hundred of his chicks. I asked him if they showed any signs of bowel 
trouble, and also about various other symptoms, but he explained to me 
that there were no signs of the various diseases; they just layed down 
and died. I told him I would call and see him the next day, which I did. 
I looked his chickens over and they were the weakest, most consumptive- 
looking things I ever saw in my life. I asked him what he had been 
feeding, and what care he had given them, and various other questions, 
which all seemed to be in regular order. I left him saying that I did not 
know what was the matter with his chickens, but that I would try and 
find out. 

When going home on the car my own mind told me that these chicks 
lacked vitality. While there was enough fertility to produce a germ in 
the egg strong enough to hatch, there was not enough vitality — no doubt 
caused by the parent stock. 

That thing brooded in my mind until I finally said, "I am going to? 
satisfy myself." So I took the train and went to visit the breeder froii 
whom he had purchased the eggs. Rather fortunate for me, he was not at 
home, and I did not make myself known to the gentleman who was so kind 
to show me through the plant. But of all the filthy, run-down places that 
I ever seen, this was it. About eight or ten different varieties of chickens 
and about two dozen ducks running around — tin cans and filth, such as 
I had never seen before in my life. But I finally found the birds that 
my friend had gotten his eggs from, and there I found one male bird to 
thirty-seven females. Now, dear reader, how could there be any vitality 
under those conditions? You can rest assured that I have never recom- 
mended anyone from that day to this, unless I knew more about the 
breeder's place or bad visited it myself. 

So let me say to the new beginner — be sure you know wHat stock 
your eggs come from. 

Another instance came to my attention this spring. I visited a mer- 
chant one day while in the city, who told me that he had bought an incu- 
bator and that he was going to fill it with some common farm eggs for an 
experiment, to which I made no reply. But in a few weeks I happened 
into this same place again when in the city, which was nothing unusual, 
as I traded there, and he told me of his success with his incubator. He 
asked me to go down into his cellar and examine his lay-out, as he called 
it. I consented, and out of one hundred and forty-four eggs there were 
three measly little chicks. Well! Of course, being well acquainted with 
my friend, I could not help but laugh until I thought I would split my 
sides, and in a joking way asked him if he was going to enter them in 
the show next winter. In the meantime we examined the remaining eggs 
and we found two-thirds of them perfectly clear — infertile — and the 
remaining eggs had chicks in them partially developed, but had died in 
the shell between the twelfth and sixteenth days on account of weak 
germs — lacking vitality. So we came upstairs in the store, he setting up 
the cigars, and we sat down and commenced to talk "chicken talk," as I 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



called it. Finally, I told him to get into my buggy and we would drive 
out to the farm and visit the lady from whom he had purchased his eggs, 
and for him to purchase a few dozen eggs so as not to cause any suspicion 
of what our visit might be, and I cautioned him not to make my identity 
known, as it might spoil our mission. Upon entering we were greeted by 
an elderly lady, very neatly but plainly and cleanly dressed, and the nicest, 
cleanest-kept place I ever saw. There were about five acres of a nicely- 
kept lawn, beautiful shade trees, fences, chicken houses and out houses — 
all nicely whitewashed. In fact, I said to myself, "This is the most ideal 
place for chickens to do well that I ever seen." So, after a little chat, 
we went around to visit the chickens. I finally cast my eye on a great 
big, handsome, male bird, with spurs about four inches long. My friend 
asked me what I thought of him. I told him he was a beautiful big bird. 
I then asked the lady how long she had had him. She remarked that a 
friend of theirs had given him to them about eight years ago when they 
left Iowa. After going through the flock I found that all of the six male 
birds that were there were all pets, and for that reason she did not have 
the heart to kill them or dispose of them, and I also learned that each 
and every one of them ran in age from four to eight years old — and then 
expect fertility and vitality ! I never use a male bird over two years old. 

Another case that came to my observation about this same time was 
when a party wrote me that his chicks, from five to eight weeks old, were 
dying off very rapidly. Before I could answer his letter, he sent me a tele- 
gram to come on the first train and he would pay my expenses and whatever 
the bill might be. Now, this party happened to be a customer of mine, and 
raised my strain of birds. So I went to see him, and the morning that 
I got there he had three nice, plump chicks, about five or six weeks old, 
laying upon a board that had died that night or that morning, as he said. 
I took out my pocket knife and cut open the craw of one of them and 
showed him what had killed that one. I found a lath nail, an old rusty 
lath nail, about an inch and a half long in the craw of this bird. Now, if 
you haven't had the experience, just watch your birds, and after you find 
that they have died, just cut them open, and by a little experience you 
will find the cause. This little chick ate this nail thinking it was a worm. 
Sounds ridiculous, but nevertheless it is a fact. I cut open the craw of 
another one — No. 2 — and I found two tacks in this one's craw. I cut open 
the craw of No. 3, and to my surprise I found five tacks in this one's craw. 
Now, then, the cause of the whole thing was that 
he had tacked some muslin over a screen that he 
had there, and just left the tacks and nails falling 
around as they pleased, and these chicks had 
picked them up and swallowed them. A chick 
from the day it is born up until it is almost fully 
developed will swallow tacks, nails, little pieces 
of wire, or anything of that kind, and you have no 
idea the hundreds of thousands of chicks that are 
lost every year by this one cause, and the people 
never know what happened to them. He asked 




8 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

me what my bill was. I told him I would not charge him a cent. He 
thanked me very much, and I left for home. 

Another case that comes to my memory at the present writing is 
where a breeder of Crystal White Orpingtons sent for me, and said he 
had lost two hundred and twenty-five chicks in the last three weeks and 
that they must have the cholera. He did not know what to do to stop it. 
Well, I said to myself, there is no such thing as cholera amongst this man's 
chicks, because his place was located on perfectly dry ground, and there 
was no chance for any cholera, roup or any other disease. Nevertheless, 
I went to see him. Now this man's wife was very neat and tidy about 
her hen house, and in the spring of the year she had the hen house white- 
washed every two or three weeks, so as to keep off the lice and mites — 
that is, along in February and March. It was about the 28th of August 
when I went to visit this place. They had forgotten all about the white- 
wash and all about keeping things clean, because they thought the chicks 
had gotten far enough along so they could fight their own battle. The 
first one I picked up I found two head lice on its head right back of the 
comb. The next one I picked up I turned its wing up, looked at its breast 
after turning the feathers back, and I found that it was just as lousy as 
it could be. The next one I picked up had five head lice on it. Now, it 
was awful hard for me to tell these people that their chickens were lousy, 
because I was afraid they would be insulted, because they had always 
written and told me that they took the best of care of them ; and as I say 
in the spring of the year when I visited them, they had a beautiful, clean 
hen house, as clean as anyone might wish to see. But after the chicks 
were hatched they seemed to think that they did not need any more care. 
But when I showed them the lice on the head and all over the body, there 
was no beating around the bush about it. Now these head lice simply 
eat right down into the brain of the bird, and of course when they reach 
the brain, that affects the spine and then goes down into their legs and 
then you hear a good many people say, "My chicks get weak in the legs" ; 
they look pale and just lay down and die. Not for one mniute will they 
acknowledge, even though they should find the lice, that their chickens 
were lousy. They will tell their neighbors they died with cholera or some 
other disease. Remember, cleanliness is Godliness in the chicken business 
or any other business, and you cannot succeed unless you keep everything 
in good order. 





t'ARTim. VI£W DF Ml ttPEt'„MC- !=4.SS ON THfc. tfeUJRSTRftaS FARM KAN&AS CIT 




Two Years on I he Kellerstross Farm 



The Following Will Give You an Idea of How Things Are Carried 

On in a Large Poultry Plant. 

Now, on January 1st, we usually start our incubators, lighting them 
up, running them for two or three days so as to make absolutely sure that 
the thermometer is 103. Then we fill the incubator full of eggs. The first 
day we do not touch them. The second day we just simply pull the tray 
out and turn it end for end. On the morning of the third day I start to 
turn my eggs. I turn them twice each day until the night of the eighteenth 
day. I also test my eggs on the ninth and eighteenth days; some say you 
should test them on the fifth or sixth day, but I wait until the ninth day 
for my first testing, then I am sure. Don't forget that there are millions 
of eggs thrown out annually by inexperienced persons, which would have 
hatched if they had remained in the incubator. The best tester that I 
have found is a candle or a lamp. The old way suits me. 

On the night of the eighteenth day I take a warm, damp cloth, spread 
it over the eggs and leave it on until the morning of the nineteenth day. 
Now the reason I put this damp cloth on is simply to soften the shell. I 
do not care where you live, you have more or less trouble with moisture, 
no matter what kind of an incubator you use, and if you do not use 
moisture to a certain extent, more or less, during your hatch, you will find 
that on the last day you will have a number of chicks that will die in the 
shell for the want of strength to pick their way through. Even with the 
the moisture, I find that there are some of them once in a while that cannot 
pick their way through. In that case, I just simply take my pocket knife 
and pick a little piece out of the egg shell at the big end ; I simply make a 
little opening there for the little chick so he can pick his way through, 
but be careful not to break the inner shell; put him into the incubator 
under a moist cloth, and in that way I find that you can save hundreds — 
yes, thousands — of chicks during the season. But after they are all hatched 
on the twenty-first day, I still leave them in the incubator for about twenty- 
four to thirty hours before I put them in the brooder. No doubt you know 
the chick has enough yolk in it to keep it alive all the way from seventy 
to eighty-five hours without food or water. Now then I have lots of people 
ask me every day when they visit my farm, and a good many write to me 



10 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

and say, "What incubator do you use?" Let me say right here that I have 
used something like eight or ten different makes of incubators and every 
one that I have used has been a good incubator, but I will not recommend 
anybody's incubator. I have had a proposition put to me that if I would 
recommend a certain incubator in this book it would net me not less than 
$10,000 a year perhaps. But that is something that I will not do. My 
reputation is not for sale. There is one thing that I can say, though, about 
incubators. They are like an ice box or a refrigerator. You can take a 
dry goods box, or a cracker box, put ice in it in the summer time and it 
will keep. But you take a refrigerator that is well built — good, thick 
walls — and you will find that your ice will keep twice as well and last twice 
as long at half the expense, and it is the same way with an incubator. 
Now there are some incubators that are built like a tin can or a pasteboard 
box. Of course they will hatch more or less, just the same as a cracker 
box will keep ice, but my advice is, get a good incubator, one that is built 
substantial. There are fifteen some odd good makes of incubators made 
in this country, and I would just as lief have one as the other, because I 
have tried pretty nearly every one of them and they are all good, providing, 
however, that you follow the instructions of the maker of that incubator, 
because every manufacturer has different instructions. Let me impress 
it upon your mind right here. Don't listen to what your neighbor says 
as to how he runs his incubator and what he would do, but you run your 
incubator according to the instructions of the man who made your incu- 
bator. He made it, built it, and the Lord knows how much time he spent 
experimenting with it, and he can tell you more in that little book of in- 
structions that he sends out with the incubator than all the would-be expe- 
rienced poultrymen in the world can tell you in ten years. Remember 
what I say — follow the instructions which came with your incubator, no 
matter what they are, but buy a good incubator. There are millions of 
good eggs wasted every year in inferior makes of incubators. Why not 
buy a good one, when there are plenty of good, honest, reliable manufac- 
turers putting out the best incubators today that were ever manufac- 
tured in any country right here in our own country? 

Do not go into the chicken business unless you buy a good incubator 
and buy good eggs to put into it. It is just as foolish to pay $20 for eggs 
and put them into a $5 incubator as it is to buy a $40 incubator and fill 
it with $5 worth of common eggs from mongrel stock. 

Now, then, when I take my chickens out of the incubator I take them 
into the brooder house and put them into brooders that I built myself. 
The reason I built them myself is because I have had a lot of experience 
with brooders and I find that with the brooder I built two years ago, out of 
one hundred chicks that went into my brooder house there were ninety-six 
of them lived and grew to maturity. During the season of 1908 and 1909, 
out of every hundred chicks that I brought from the incubator cellar into 
the brooder house, there were ninety-eight of them lived to maturity, but 
you must also remember these eggs came from my own stock and they had 
vigor and vitality, as well as fertility. Now, I want to say right here that 
this sounds absurd. But my books have been shown to representatives of 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 11 

the daily newspapers and magazines and to poultry editors, who have pub- 
lished these records time and again. There is no question in the world 
about it. I did it and have proven it beyond any question of doubt. 

Now, there are lots of people write and ask me, "Do you use the fireiess 
brooder, or do you use heat in your brooder?" I have experimented with 
the fireiess brooders and with almost every other kind of a brooder in the 
past thirty-six years, and I am just going to give you my opinion on that 
right here. 

The brooder that we use is described on another page in this book. 
It is a fireiess brooder; it is a brooder with heat in it; it is an indoor 
brooder; it is an outdoor brooder; just any way you want to use it. During 
the cold winter months I have them in the brooder house, which is a big 
building with a roof and side walls with plenty of window lights to admit 
sunlight for the little chicks, but a dirt floor, and during the cold winter 
days and nights I light the lamp so as to keep the little chicks warm, 
because they must have heat in bitter cold weather, and if they do not 
get it they will never mature; they will never grow and make good, big, 
stout, healthy, vigorous stock; mark my word — they won't do it. A chick 
that has once been chilled, if it does not die, will always be a runt. 

But you take it in the spring and summer months, we take this same 
brooder and set it out in the yard, put about fifty chicks in it, and the 
heat of their own bodies is all the heat they will ever need after the first 
or second day. But for the first and second day, I almost invariably heat 
up the brooder for them, unless it is in extremely hot weather. Then, of 
course, common sense teaches us that they do not need heat, just the same 
as common sense teaches us that in extremely cold weather they must have 
heat. There are all kinds of patent brooders and patent incubators and 
new apparatus springing up every day and being advertised and telling 
you how to get rich quick in the poulrty business, but let me tell you hon- 
estly and candidly that experience and common sense beats them all. 
Remember, I have no brooders or incubators to sell; I am simply giving 
you my actual experience. 

Now, some breeders may do better than I can. I am only telling you 
what I have done, what experience I have had, and I guess I have spent 
as much time and money as any living man on earth in the chicken-raising 
proposition. My reputation in the poultry business has never been ques- 
tioned by anyone that I know of. I get higher prices for my stock and 
eggs, and I have won more premiums in one year than any other living 
man on the face of the earth. You must remember that what I am writing 
here in this book is actual experience and happens right here on my farm. 
It is not a dream put into a man's head while he sits in his office writing 
of what can be done in the chicken business and taking a pencil and com- 
mencing to multiply and count his chickens by the thousands and by the 
millions in his head. Remember, I do not count my chickens when they 
are hatched. I count my chickens along about the first of October, when 
they are laying and in their breeding pens, and not before. 

Now, when I put these little chicks into the brooder after taking them 
out of the incubator cellar, I dip their little beak in some fresh water. 



12 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

They do not get any of the water, but it simply frehsens them up; tnen 
1 put them in the brooder. I do not give them any feed for the first five, 
six or seven hours; then when I do feed them, I feed them the yolk of 
hard boiled eggs, mixed with toast, just common bread toast. I take this 
bread toast and yolk of hard boiled egg and run it through a meat grinder, 
just the same as an ordinary family uses in their kitchen. Now, the reason 
I give them this toast is because it forms their first grit. I find that in 
giving them sand or gravel, the little chicks do not know what it is, and 
a good many will stand there and just pick the oyster shells, sand or 
gravel, and fill their craws so full that they simply lay down and die. I 
have cut open lots of them and found that to be the case; and if you are 
feeding them grit and sand and will cut them open, you will find what 
there is there and you will find what killed them. 

Now, when I put these little chicks in these brooders, I have good 
black dirt on the ground, covered with a little alfalfa or chaff from the 
barn, and it gives them something to work and scratch on right away. 
About a year ago, when several of the Eastern papers sent their repre- 
sentatives out here to look over my plant, they wrote pages about the 
phenomenal success that I had made in raising 98 per cent of all the 
chicks that were hatched. The only thing that I can say is, the reason 
for this is because I kept them on good old mother earth; that is nature; 
that is natural for them; that is where they should be. 

When I set my brooder outside, I move it every day; just pull it 
back and forth, if it is not over six inches. It gives them fresh grass or 
fresh ground. In the mid-winter, when I have them here in the brooder 
house, I either take a spade and turn that ground over, or when it gets 
stale and all poisoned I simply throw it out altogether and put fresh 
ground in. 

To go back to feeding the little chicks, as I said, their first meal is 
toast and the yolk of an egg. The second day I feed them hard boiled 
eggs and toast the same as the first day, only I grind up the whole egg — 
yolk, white, shell and all. Now the eggs that I use are usually infertile 
eggs out of the incubators. If I haven't enough of these I use fresh eggs, 
because I will feed my chicks and take care of them. I feed them this 
about every two or three hours, but never give them any more than they 
will clean up. If I go around and find that they have not cleaned up 
everything, you can be sure I do not feed them until they have cleaned 
up what I had given them. Fresh water I keep before them all the time. 
On about the third or fourth day I set a little trough in the brooder filled 
with bran, and this trough stays full of bran all the time. It gives the 
little fellows something to go and pick at. It helps to develop their craw — 
and you must remember one thing — that a chicken will never be a big 
egg-producer unless she has a good big craw. She has to have a big craw 
so that she can take care of a whole lot of food, because it is what she 
eats that makes eggs. If she does not eat, you will not get any eggs; I 
will tell you that. At the same time I place the bran before them I start 
to feed a little grain. Now, any of the well advertised chick feeds on the 
market are all right for them. When I feed them grain I sprinkle it right 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 13 

on this black dirt that is in the brooder, rake it over with my hand a 
little bit, so that it is kind of buried under the ground, and the little chicks 
commence to scratch for it, and that is what they should do — they have 
to scratch ; they have to work for they have to have exercise, because I tell 
you right now that is what develops your birds. That is what gives them 
muscle, gives them form, gives them strength and makes them grow. 
You cannot raise chickens on a hardwood, mahogany finished, parlor floor 
and expect good results. The nearer and closer to nature you get, the 
more and better success you will have. 

Now, after these chicks get up to about eight weeks old, at which time 
they weigh from two to two and one-half pounds, and you cannot keep 
them from weighing that if you just give them care and regular feed. 
But my Crystal White Orpingtons are the only chickens that I know of 
that will do that, and, as a usual thing, when you see some incubator manu- 
facturer or some brooder manufacturer demonstrating at a poultry show, 
you almost invariably see him using my Crystal White Orpingtons. Why? 
Because, as I say, they develop faster than any breed of chickens on the 
face of the earth that I know of. You can breed them by the hundreds 
or by the thousand, and they will average two to two and one-half pounds 
in eight weeks. Of course, if you raise them and feed them for broilers 
for the market, they can very easily be made to weigh two and one-half 
to three pounds when eight weeks old. 

Now, remember, that not for one minute do I write this book to con- 
demn any breed or any breeder, any incubator, brooder, incubator manu- 
facturer or anything of that kind. But in the last thirty-six years I 
have bred Barred Rocks, White Rocks, Buff Rocks, several of the different 
varieties of Wyandottes, Leghorns; in fact, I have bred about eighteen 
different breeds of chickens. 

Now, I keep the White Orpingtons ; am breeding the White Orpingtons 
exclusively, because I think they are the best in the whole world. Of 
course, every man has his choice and fancy of different breeds. We 
cannot all see it the same way. While it is true, and has been published 
by some of the best judges in the country, and some of the best poultry 
journals in the country have said, that the White Orpingtons were not 
on the map, were not known until I took them up. Of course, I bred 
them White and I bred them up to size. If I had not done it, I would not 
in the season of 1907 and 1908 have won over 
90 per cent of all the premiums that were 
offered in this country in the shows I made. 
That is the reason I call my birds the "Crystal 
White Orpingtons," originated by the Keller- 
strass Farm, because everyone whom I have 
met at all the different shows, in the different 
countries, has said they had never seen any- 
thing like them. Of course, today there are 
hundreds, perhaps thousands, of them being 
bred all over the world, because I have shipped 
to almost every known country on the globe. 




14 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

Now, as I have said, when they become eight weeks old, then I turn 
them out and let them rustle for themselves, so to speak. I put them in 
little runways out in the yard, about three feet wide and eight feet long, 
with a little coop at the end, putting twenty or twenty-five to a runway. 
But before I put them in these runways, I sowed these runways with 
wheat, rye and barley and spaded it down about four to six inches deep. 
I go in there every day and turn over one or two spades full of this dirt, 
and of all the picking and scratching that you have ever seen birds do, 
you ought to see these little chicks go after it. This seed that is partly 
sprouted has a little green attached on the end of it, and that is where 
you make them work again, and get the development into them and get 
that vitality into them. I leave them in these runways until they are 
about twelve or fourteen weeks old. It altogether depends on how many 
we have on hand and how many we have remaining in the brooder house 
as to how we have to push and keep pushing and crowding them out. 
But from these little runways, I just simply turn them out over into the 
orchard and there I leave them until fall. They have plenty of room 
there and find plenty of bugs and grasshoppers. I give them grain each 
day and the little wheat bran box is before them all the time. I leave 
them there until about the first or middle of September. Then I com- 
mence to put them into the breeding pens and breeding houses. I usually 
take about one male to every ten females. Let me caution you right here. 

Be sure they are not related. You cannot mate up brothers and 
sisters in the chicken line or in any other line and expect results. Be 
sure they are not related, the male to the females. 

Also see that you have a good male. Remember that the male is 
two-thirds of the flock when it comes to breeding. That is one thing 
I am very particular about — my male birds. Perhaps I will take a 
chance on a poor female once in awhile by mating her up to a good male 
bird, but never will I take a chance on a poor male bird. 

Now, in these breeding pens I put to one male about ten females. 
I put them into these houses. Now these houses have old hay, straw 
or litter of some kind on the floor, all the way from six to eight inches 
deep, and there is where I do my feeding. About seven o'clock in the 
morning I go into these houses and I feed them cracked corn, wheat, oats 
and kaffir corn; just throw it right on this litter. There you are back 
to nature again. I make them work for what they get. They have to 
scratch and dig in this litter. That is what gives them exercise, and a 
hen that does not get exercise — do not believe for one minute that that 
hen will lay. They have to have exercise in order to lay, and then when 
they do lay that egg will have vitality and strength, so that when it 
hatches the chick will live and grow and make a good, stout, healthy chick. 

At noon I feed them sprouted oats during the winter months when 
there isn't any green food. In another part of this book I tell you all 
about sprouted oats. 

Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon I feed what I call 
my mash feed. Now, some breeders feed a mash in the morning and 
feed a dry feed in the evening, because they say the bird should have 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 15 

some grain in its craw and let it ferment there and warm them up dur- 
ing the night. Well, of course, we cannot all see it in the same way. I 
do it my way, the other breeder does it his way. I feed the grain in the 
morning, because it simply makes them work and keeps them busy all 
day, and makes them exercise. That is why I feed it in the morning, 
and the mash I feed in the afternoon between four and five o'clock, which 
consists of cut clover or cut alfalfa, steeped in a little boiling water, and 
that is mixed with bran, chops, wheat, oats and some grit mixed right 
in with it, so that they get some grit in their craws to grind up their 
feed and make egg shells, and also fresh meat and bone. Now, I get one 
hundred pounds of fresh beef shipped out here every day from the pack- 
ing house in Kansas City. I buy the neck off of the beef. Then I have 
my bone grinder here and grind it up — fresh meat, bone and all. Now, 
of course, when I say one hundred pounds a day you must remember 
that goes to about eight to ten thousand birds. I figure that each bird 
should have just enough green bone to equal, say, from three to four 
grasshoppers or bugs each day. This meat is mixed right in with this 
mash and with the skim milk of the farm, when we have skim milk, and 
when we do not have it we use water, but of course I prefer the skim 
milk. Lots of times during the year, when I can get it, and do not have 
it on the farm here, I buy skim milk from the dairies around here. I 
mix that all up into what I call a dry mash. I feed it, you understand, 
as dry as I possibly can ; that is, I do not want it sloppy. I want it moist, 
but not what you would call sloppy. That is the last meal they get in 
the evening, but be sure and keep fresh water before them at all times. 
Now, whether my food theory is right or wrong, that is simply a ques- 
tion of opinion among the different breeders. But there is one thing that 
no one can dispute, and that is, that my birds do lay, because I have 
records like no breeder in the world has ever been able to beat or to show, 
so far as egg production is concerned. That is one thing I pride myself 
on and devote my whole time and attention to — the egg production. I 
do not care how fine a Jersey cow you have, if she does not give milk — 
what good is she? And it is the same way with a chicken. No matter 
how fine they are, if they don't lay, what good are they ? When I won over 
90 per cent of the premiums that were offered in this country in the sea- 
sons of 1907 and 1908, and won the sweepstakes at Chicago for having 
the best bird in the show room, over and above all breeds of chickens, 
not barring any, right then and there I said — I have shown them that 
my chickens are all right for the show room. Now I am going home 
and continue on breeding them up for egg production, and since that 
time I have devoted my whole time to egg production, and I am doing 
it at the present day. I do not know that I will ever go into a show 
room again with my chickens; not at least until some breeder makes as 
good a record as I have made during the seasons of 1907 and 1908. Just 
as soon as the poultry journals will show me that there is a breeder who 
has made as good a record as I did, you can rest assured that I am go- 
ing into the show room, and I will beat him. If I don't, I will just simply 
quit the poultry business. But up until the time that some breeder does 



16 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

make as good a record as I do, I am going to stay at home and devote 
my whole time to egg production. It is eggs — that is what, we need. 
There isn't a breeder in the world today, not barring any, who can show 
that he made chickens produce as much in the egg-producing line as I 
have. If there is, I would like some poultry journal to mention it. The 
poultry journals, as well as the daily newspapers and magazines all over 
the country, have published time and again what I have done. Now, 
remember, dear reader, as I have said time and again, this book is not 
written with a whole lot of fancy words and flowery speeches. It is 
simply written by a man who has had actual experience, and this book 
is written every day as I go along with my experience. It is all written 
from actual facts. 

Now, going back to the chickens — these chickens that are in their 
breeding pens are never left out in the yard or in the runway from about 
November 1st until May 1st here in my country ; it all depends upon the 
weather, of course. They stay right in that house, and they have to do their 
scratching, digging, feeding and egg laying right in that house. Now, you 
may catch a nice sunshiny day along in March or April, and you will say, 
well, I am going to let these chickens out; it is such a beauitful sunshiny 
day. But there is cold damp frost in the ground and the sun is draw- 
ing it out, and that hen will go out and walk around on the ground, wet, 
damp and moist ; the first thing you know she is standing on one foot 
and then on the other foot, and she will go back to the house and retard 
and not lay an egg again for two or three weeks. There is where you 
lost by letting them out. As I say, my chickens do not go out until the 
first of May — until I know there is no more chance of cold weather or 
frost being in the ground. After the first of May I let them out in the 
runway. They remain in these houses and runways until along about 
the first or middle of July. Then I break up my breeding pens, I sepa- 
rate my males and females arid put them in separate runs. Of course, 
you understand a female will lay just as many eggs without the male 
bird as with him, but they will not be fertile. After the first or middle 
of July, I am not looking for any f eritle eggs ; don't want them. I then 
commence to feed a very little grain once each day, just enough to keep 
her alive and keep her going. I let her get down just as thin as I feel 
she ought to get, and along about the 15th of August I commence to 
throw the feed into her and feed plenty of sunflower seed. Then you 
ought to see the feathers fall. They seem to shed their feathers all at 
once. The feathers all drop out and she gets her new coat of feathers 
and they come out fine, pure, white and glossy from feeding this extra 
feed of sunflower seed. They get through their molt before the cold 
weather sets in. Along about the 15th of September she is plum through 
her molt, ready to be put into a breeding pen again, and she starts to 
lay, and lays all the whole winter through. Remember, that if you do 
not get your birds to laying by September or October, they are liable to 
not lay until spring. I always get my birds through their molt early, 
so that I may get them started to laying before cold weather sets in, 
and they keep it up all winter. It is the same way with my little chicks. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 17 

I always try to hatch my little chicks early, so the pullets are all matured 
by fall, so they will start to lay and will lay all through the winter. You 
take a chicken hatched in July or August don't you ever believe for one 
minute that you are going to get many eggs from that bird that fall or 
winter; that is simply impossible; she is not matured. Now, there are 
lots of breeders Who will tell you: Oh, hatch in August; you can raise 
plenty of them in August. Yes; that is true, you can hatch and raise 
them in August. But it will be the next spring before that bird is de- 
veloped, if it ever develops to amount to anything. It will be the next 
spring before that bird will start to laying. Now, I do not want any 
summer chickens. I want chickens that will lay all the year 'round. I 
don't want chickens that will only lay in the spring. I want chickens 
that will lay from one fall to another, and that is the kind of breeding 
which my past record and my daily record shows. 

Now, remember that all through this book I am simply trying to 
tell you what I am doing, and I suppose that every bredeer has his own 
way, and we may all differ. But there is one thing that I can say, that 
no breeder in the world can say, and that is — when I sold that pen of 
birds to Madame Paderewski for $7,500 (seven thousand five hundred 
dollars) — remember, five chickens for $7,500 — that is the highest price 
that was ever paid for chickens in the world. 

Remember, when I took thirty hens and made them net me $68.00 
a year per hen, that no other breeder ever made a record like that. And 
besides netting me $68.00 a year per hen, I had three-fifths of the eggs left 
for my own hatching. Now, when I take that all into consideration, I 
just figure that I have perhaps done a little bit better than any breeder 
in this country. While you must remember that I am a life member of 
the American Poultry Association, and I have a good feeling toward 
every breeder of any breed in the world, I want to say to you right here 
— don't you breed my chickens unless you feel that they are the kind of 
chickens you want to breed. By all means, when you start in the chicken 
business, first find out what kind of chickens you like best. Then go to 
some good, honest, reliable breeder and buy stock or eggs from him. 
Don't breed my kind of chickens if you don't like them, because you will 
never make a success with them. But whatever you do, only breed one 
kind; you will never make a success trying to breed several different 
varieties. Always take the kind that you like best. If you visit me, 
and I have visitors daily — no matter what kind 
of chickens you are breeding — my son and my 
men are always instructed to give the visitor 
all the information they can, because, no mat- 
ter what kind of chickens you breed — if you 
make a success of them, that is what helps 
the poultry business, and every time you make 
a success, no matter what kind you breed, as 
I say, it helps the poultry business, and what- 
ever helps the poultry business helps my busi- 
ness, because I am in the poultry business. 




18 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

There is one thing that I cannot impress upon your mind too much, 
and that is this : Buy the best stock and eggs that you can buy, no mat- 
ter what breed you are going to breed. You can go and buy some cheap 
stock or eggs and you will spend a whole year's time and hard work, 
and then you have made a failure of it; you wonder why. That is what 
hurts the poultry business, and anything that hurts the poultry busi- 
ness, hurts my business. For that reason, I say — buy the best stock that 
you can buy, and if you cannot buy good stock, do not start at all. Do 
not go out and buy some cheap mongrel stock or eggs and start in. Do 
not do it. Leave it alone for another year, until you are able to buy 
good stock. 

Now, remember, when you buy this book from me, I simply give you 
all the information that I can, and the actual experience that I have had 
in the poultry business. 






WORTH KNOWING 



Experience is the best teacher. 

If you start at all, start with good stock. 

Cleanliness is Godliness in the poultry business. 

You can keep a good hen just as cheaply as you can a poor one. 

Have plenty of grit — the sharper the better — available for poultry. 

When hens stop laying they may often be started again by change 
of feed. 

The successful breeder never goes to his neighbor for advice. "He 
hasn't time." 

There are only two classes of people who never make a mistake- — 
the dead and the unborn. 

Protect your brooder chicks from cold, wet weather, if you don't 
want them to have bowel trouble. 

Never allow incubator chicks to become chilled. One-half the ills 
of young chickens arise from this cause. 

To follow nature in hatching is generally tne best plan. Little chicks 
and warm weather work together in a harmonious way. 

Don't feed corn alone. Give the hens some wheat and oats if you 
want plenty of eggs. Corn makes fat rather than eggs. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 19 

It hardly ever pays to doctor a sick chicken, but it does pay to use 
the most improved methods to prevent disease. 

It is useless to expect success with incubator chicks without a thor- 
ough understanding of feed and care for them. 

Keep your poultry house dry. Chickens can stand cold if it is dry, 
but combined with dampness bad results are almost sure to follow. 

Try shaving some young sweet corn — or even field corn — for the 
young chicks and see how greedily they devour it. 

Young chicks should be kept somewhat hungry rather than incur 
risk of overfeeding, especially if they are taking little exercise. 

Do not stuff your hens, thinking that you make them lay. Throw 
feed in the litter and make them work for their meals. 

Eggs are the foundation of all poultry production. A few people 
place form and feathers first, but they do not measure up with the rest 
of mankind. 

When hens lay soft shelled eggs it is a sign they are too fat. Cut 
down the amount of grain and feed more vegetables and green food. 

Coal ashes thrown about the poultry house are sure death to the 
small, blood-sucking mites. Use plenty of them and keep on using them. 

The beginner should confine his efforts to one breed is an old in- 
junction, but a wise one. It will not pay to have your attention too much 
divided. • 

If brooder chicks get chilled keep up the heat and give light feed 
for a few days. With proper care on this line they will soon come 
around all right. 

Don't feed chicks with corn meal dough. Give them finely cracked 
grain or rolled oats. The tendency now is to give all feed dry. 

No hen can do her best roosting in trees. She should not be ex- 
pected to do well when improperly fed. She should be cared for as if 
she were an egg producer. 

In starting with an incubator on the farm, use a small size. It is 
easier to fill it with eggs and you can handle it more readily. 

Green food supplies mineral salts. The difficulty is the small amount 
of salts to bulk of food. Yet a little green food keeps the blood cool in 
mid-summer weather. 

Learn to figure out a balanced ration for your fowls when you can, 
but most farmers will learn by practice to give the right feed in proper 
proportions. 

It is a mistake to try to keep too many hens for the room you have. 
Better drop off a lot of them and give the rest a chance. You will do 
better, and so will the hens. 

Keep the sexes apart till needed for breeding purposes. This will 
insure greater fertility of eggs, and infertile eggs keep better for market 
purposes. 

A nervous hen cannot be relied upon for a good setter. The chances 
are that she will get excited when the chicks come out and leave the 
nest permanently. 

Keep plenty of shade and green food all through the hot months. 



20 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

Also keep the dust boxes full and the water vessels supplied with pure, 
fresh water. 

To get rid of disease and vermin the fight must be constant. Sul- 
phur is about the best thing to keep off lice, and wise care and feeding 
will prevent disease. 

Beware of overcrowding young chicks, or any other. There must be 
plenty of room in the brooder, on the roost and in the range. This is 
why small flocks succeed. 

No one grain alone will keep chicks or fowls in good condition. A 
variety must be had, and if they cannot obtain the variety by foraging 
it must be fed from the farmer's bins. 

To have early winter eggs, put your hens through the moulting 
period before summer is over, while eggs are cheap. A fast of two or 
three weeks, followed by rich feeding, does the work. 

If the hen will not pay for her board in eggs, she should be made 
to yield a profit by being slaughtered and her carcass sold. No poultry- 
man should keep drones; he cannot afford it. 

When the hen is through setting burn all the old nesting material, 
disinfect the nest box, and give it a coat of liquid lice-killer to make a 
good job of it, and then put in fresh straw. 

Experiments have proved that a hen in good condition will eat on 
an average four ounces of grain in the morning, two ounces of grain 
at noon, and three ounces of mash in the evening. 

Dampness in the poultry house must not be allowed. Remember 
also that fresh air is a tonic, and that poultry of all kinds will do much 
better if their roosting quarters are well ventilated. 

Pure water on the farm. Have you got it? It may look clear and 
good, but are you sure that the well is so located that it is not being 
contaminated by surface water or some other agency? 

It is just as well to have a well bred chicken as a well bred horse 
or cow. Any amount of food and care will not make a mongrel as profit- 
able as a pure-bred under the same conditions. 

One of the best ways to disinfect a brooder is to open it wide, take 
out the hover, and let the midday sun shine on both for a couple of hours. 
The sunlight will kill the germs it reaches. 

In building the house, do not have the roosts too high. A foot or 
two is high enough. There is danger of fowls injuring themselves flying 
down from a high roost, especially the heavier birds. 

Old hens commence laying late and leave 
off early. Old hens, unless they are very val- 
uable as breeders, are seldom profitable to keep, 
considering their record throughout the year. 

Green bone and scraps of waste can often 
be bought at the butcher shop at a reasonable 
price, and this makes an excellent feed for poul- 
try if given to them while fresh. Never feed 
decayed meat. 

Start with the breed you think you want, 
and then stick to it. The stock raiser who 




OF RAISING POULTRY. 21 

shifts every few years to a new breed never gets anywhere in his opera- 
tions, except nearer to the poor-house, perhaps. 

Filthy drinking vessels are the cause of many serious ailments of 
fowls. Continued drinking of impure water will produce what is com- 
monly termed cholera, and the flock is soon wiped out. 

Remember, the hen when laying needs about twice as much feed as 
she would if not laying. Like any other machine, she must be furnished 
with material from which to manufacture her finished product — eggs. 

Once a week, at least, disinfect the drinking fountains and dishes 
used by the poultry by scalding them in boiling water. Infectious dis- 
eases are spread very rapidly through the feeding troughs and drinking 
fountains. 

When the ground is frozen and snow-covered, where do your biddies 
procure their grit, or teeth, unless you have thoughtfully provided it? 
Some farms are all picked over, and there is no grit to be found there, 
even in summer. 

With the rapidly increasing prices of beef, pork and mutton, the 
poultry comes to the relief of the people. Eggs take the place of beef- 
steak for breakfast, and a roast fowl will be served for dinner instead of 
roast pork, beef or mutton. 

Eggs are made up largely of liquid matter. When you keep a hen 
shut away from water or some kind of drink, depend upon it you will not 
get eggs very long. Keep a good lot of nice fresh water where the hens 
can get it all through the day. 

Chicken should never be eaten the day it is killed. The tenderest, 
freshly-killed chicken will be tough as soon as the animal heat has left 
the body. In about twelve hours, however, the muscles will relax and it 
then becomes acceptable for food. 

Immediately after dressing poultry, it should be thrown into ice cold 
water, and allowed to remain there until all the animal heat has left the 
body. Neglect to do this is very apt to cause the carcasses to turn green 
in parts by the time they reach their destination. 

A hen that begins to lay in November and lays even as many as ten 
eggs a month through to the end of February, at the prices that prevail 
in any town, has paid for her feed for a whole year, and all she produces 
the remaining eight months of the year is clear profit. 

It is attention to little things that makes for success in the poultry 
business. One of these little things is to rinse out all the drinking vessels 
before putting fresh water in them. Filth is a srue breeder of disease, 
and disease means disaster, and disaster is not what you are looking for. 

Poultry, like sheep, can stand a great deal of cold, if it is only dry 
cold. Hens that are given plenty of exercise in a sunny, scratching shed, 
that may be entirely open on good days and curtained with cloth on stormy 
days, will be healthy and lay in the coldest weather if fed properly. 

If your old stock has to be kept confined in a small yard all summer, 
don't forget to give plenty of green feed. Lettuce makes an ideal green 
feed for fowls. Better plant a little patch for summer use. The chicks 



22 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

would like it, too. Cabbages and mangels should also be planted for fall 
and winter feed. 

The hen that does all her laying during the summer should be disposed 
of along with her chicks. Her small profit cuts down the average and 
discourages the fancier. It costs just as much to keep her as the others, 
and the room she and her offspring occupy should be given to the winter 
layers and their chicks. 

Don't be in haste to complain when you have bought a setting of eggs. 
The trouble may grow less, or entirely disappear, by waiting. The ap- 
pearance of newly hatched chicks is often deceptive. It takes time for 
color to settle right. Black Minorcas often show white in the chick stage. 
Gray in chicks of the white breeds may be a good sign rather than a bad 
one. Postpone sending letter of regret to your dealer and you may find 
it unnecessary to send it at all. This will save unpleasant feelings on 
both sides. 

Many a failure, especially among farmers, can be traced to inbreeding 
their poultry. I believe that this is not generally practiced from a desire 
to do so, but because of neglect. It is not attended to when it should be 
done, and when it is called to mind it is generally too late to purchase 
breeders, and another year of inbreeding is practiced. That is one reason, 
and another is due to the fact that it costs more to get good males from 
a breeder than it does to select a few of the best in the flock for that 
purpose. 

A farmer raises hogs and when he takes them to the market he gets 
from six to twelve cents a pound for them, and it costs from four and 
one-half to ten and one-half cents a pound to raise them, figuring the 
corn that he feeds them, by the time they are ready for the market. 

His wife raises chickens and when she takes the old hens to the mar- 
ket she gets not less than from eight to thirty cents a pound for them, 
and no matter how poor a layer the hen is, you can rest assured she 
laid enough eggs to pay for her feed several times over. 

So it is easy to see what profit there is in poultry. 

JANUARY. 

Don't go into the poultry business if you do not like chickens. 

Before starting the incubator, carefully test the thermometer, as 
the best of them go wrong sometimes, and a season's changes may 
upset your hatch. Your family physician will have a clinical ther- 
mometer in his pocket at all times, and he will be glad to test the in- 
cubator thermometer for you. Don't bother him to test more than 
one, as you can test the others, if you have more machines, by the 

first one. 

Provide your hens with plenty of nests. 

Feed them more heavily and with a larger proportion of animal 
food. They will be laying some, but a large percentage of the eggs 
will be infertile, or poorly fertilized. Give them some green food— 
alfalfa, cabbage, cut clover, or chopped vegetables. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 23 

Better give the breeding hens a little more room than the layers, 
and if you find you must sell a few pullets in order to do this, send 
them to market. 

Get your incubator this month and be sure you have plenty of 
brooder room. Most breeders make the mistake of not providing 
enough space for the youngsters after they hatch. 

Late hatched June and July pullets should begin laying this month, 
if they have been properly fed and cared for. Broilers and roasters 
started this month bring the cream of the year's prices, and the parent 
stock should be selected. They should be laying well now, and the 
incubators and brooders put into working order and the work started 
early in the month. 

Chickens hatched in the middle of the winter need good brooding 
accommodations, and while the style of the house and plan of brooder 
may vary with the owner's fancy, for a safe proposition nothing equals 
the small colony house with an individual brooder contained therein. 
The chicks should be kept confined closely to the brooder until one 
week or ten days old, then allowed the run of the dirt floor of the 
house for another week. When two weeks old daily out-of-door exer- 
cises must be provided and insisted upon. Chickens cannot be grown 
successfully without it and leg weakness is sure to follow if one at- 
tempts to rear them without this. Feed them something they like on 
a bare spot of ground just outside the building and provide easy ac- 
cess to and from the house (no stairs or blind passageway) and they 
will work back and forth under zero weather conditions with nothing 
but benefit to themselves and their owner. 

This is a good month to lay out your work for the year. Begin 
now and figure out what your requirements will be the coming season. 

FEBRUARY. 

Our cities are growing rapidly; our people are appreciating the 
value of fresh eggs. The price keeps working up and will continue to 
work up until you receive 75c per dozen for eggs during the holidays. 
Get aboard! 

If your early hatches show signs of leg weakness be sure that 
they get an out-of-door run. In fact, feed them out of doors on the 
bare ground one or two feeds per day of some delicacy that they are 
very fond of. Get them out into the open air after they are ten days 
of age, regardless of temperature. Shovel off a spot right down to 
mother earth, and do not be afraid to let them eat a little snow. 

Start the brooder in a clean house, with not more than 25 — 40 
chicks together. Feed liberally, better up to the wasting point than 
to let some of the chicks go hungry. Let them have the run of the 
house when ten days old. Do not let them bunch up out in the bright 
sunlight on cold winter days. The sunlight has a fascination for them 
and frequently they will huddle together and get chilled outside in 
preference to going to a warm hover chamber. It is sometimes better 



24 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

to hang a thin curtain over the window glass to avoid this trouble 
until they reach a more discriminating age. 

If one keeps hens for egg production alone, there will be no need 
of having any male birds. It costs at least $1.00 a year to feed a 
male bird. Better keep an extra hen. 

You will have to put on your thinking cap often nowadays, or 
the other spring work will crowd out the chicks. Do the fair thing by 
them. Their success during the rest of the year depends on it. 

If your rooster is old, do not have too many hens in the pen with 
him, if you expect the eggs to hatch. 

Don't allow them to be excited. Don't unnecessarily disturb them. 
Keep strange dogs and strange people away from their quarters. Give 
them plenty of nesting. Be careful that the eggs are gathered before 
they have a chance to get chilled. 

Winter chickens, in fact, all chickens, should be well fed in order 
to get the benefit of the quick-growing habit of the previously selected 
ancestors. Surely the youngsters cannot make bone and muscle out of 
a "pleasant view" or "good, sunny weather"; something more satis- 
fying to the appetite will answer much better, and while plenty of 
good vitalizing air must be provided, so must an abundance of food be 
always within reach. 

It does not matter how carefully you breed your poultry, or how 
well you care for them, or how well you incubate and brood the chicks; 
if you feed inferior chick feed your entire season's effort is soon a 
thing of the past. 

Every experienced poultryman realizes that the first two or three 
weeks is the crucial period in the lives of his chickens. Upon the health 
and thrift of the chickens during these few weeks depend the profits 
of the whole season and of the year's business. 

When we have learned to look upon every chicken hatched as 
possessing decided possibilities of profit — a profit which may come, 
perhaps, in the form of a fat, toothsome broiler; a big, plump, juicy 
roasting chicken; an early laying pullet; the head of a breeding pen; 
or, maybe, a show prize winner — we shall more fully realize the im- 
portance of giving them every opportunity for healthy, rapid growth 
and development. The greatest pains will be taken to hatch eggs 
from only the best parent stock. At no time during the brief life of 
the chicken shall it be allowed to wait for sound, sweet food, presented 
in the most palatable form. We shall not be good to the chickens for 
a few weeks and then leave them to shift for themselves, but shall 
see that they are kept growing, and shall push them every day until 
serving the purpose for which they were hatched. Every hour of un- 
satisfied hunger means loss. 

Almost without exception in all other forms of bird and animal 
life the growing period is the fattening period of life. In other words, 
the birds or animals carry more fat on them during this than any 
other time of their lives, and in the face of this the old teaching told 
us to keep them hungry. Is it any wonder that the hens did not lay; 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 25 

that the youngsters did not get to standard weight or that poultry 
keeping did not pay? I repeat, feed your youngsters and your chickens 
will always be ready for the table or market and show you better re- 
turns than ever before. 

A pullet or well-matured cockerel represents the combination of a 
very small chicken, quite a large amount of feed, and some other con- 
ditions. When we stop to consider the size of a chicken when hatched, 
weighing as it does, only about one and one-half ounces, and when ma- 
tured from ninety to two hundred ounces, we realize how much they 
must depend upon their feed to mature properly. The right condi- 
tions are essential, but not very hard to provide. Feed, the balance of 
the combination is simple. Hen-reared chickens, when running at large 
with the mother hen, are fed a continuous stream of bugs, worms, 
grains, seeds and grasshoppers from daylight to dark. There is no 
interval of fasting, only brief, warm-up recesses or naps; the entire 
day is spent in trying to "fill up." 

MARCH. 

Don't go into the poultry business if you think you can make a 
success of the business and half feed your flock. The hen's body wants 
come first; if there is any surplus it is made up into eggs. It is up 
to you to provide the surplus. 

By figuring out about how many broods of chicks there will be, 
and counting over the coops, building more if necessary, and having 
them placed where they can readily be reached at time wanted, a 
good gain will be made, and there will be no need of rushing around 
looking for a coop when other work is pressing, or else using the 
handiest thing for the hen and her chicks and losing many in conse- 
quence. 

Following a hard winter this is the month of poor hatches from 
stock that has been fed upon poor feed and partially smothered all 
winter in glass houses. Such stock needs a few weeks' exercise in the 
open air to get thoroughly alive again. 

Test out the infertile eggs from the incubator, carefully throw- 
ing out all the "veiny" ones, saving only those that are absolutely 
clear. You will find these perfectly good for cooking purposes or sale- 
able to bakeries. 

Set all the broody hens that come along this month. Keep the in- 
cubator full. Swap the eggs out from under the hens into the machine 
after they have been going ten days. The machine will finish them 
up better than the hens and deliver more chickens with no lice. An 
incubator and the hens working together make a splendid combination, 
beats either one working alone. 

Brains are needed as much as capital in the poultry business. 

As a rule the eggs from hens that did heavy laying during the 
winter will not be so fertile as eggs from hens that made but a fair 
showing. 



26 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



If you ship eggs for hatching, use the best and lightest package. 
Alfalfa makes splendid litter for brooders and runs for early 
chicks, always sweet and not expensive. 

Early January hatched broilers can now be marketed as the de- 
mand for this month does not call for them to weigh over three-quar- 
ters to one pound each. Market limited as to number required. 

Pullets gotten out this month will give results in the fall. 

Cockerels March hatched, caponized, sell at good prices for roast- 
ing chickens during August and early September. This month is usu- 
ally the year's lowest point for prices on eggs. 

Save every bit of sour milk you can for the poultry. They will 
make as good use of it as any creature on the farm. 

Healthy chickens live unless abused. Healthy hens lay eggs that, 
if not abused, hatch healthy chickens. Now it is up to you; if you are 
losing chickens, why? Are you abusing them, or did you abuse the 
old stock? Abuse may come in two forms — neglect or over-attention 
— trying to keep your birds too warm in winter, feeding improper 
feeds, etc. You may be keeping your incubator too warm, not running 
your incubator properly. There is a reason for the death of every 
chicken. Try and see this year if you cannot cut last season's mortality 
down one-half. 

Get the spring coops and fittings cleaned up and in working order. 
Chickens will soon be plenty and time scarce. 

A variety of grains should be used at all times to secure the best 
results, either with growing stock or laying hens. When confined to 
a restricted ration, young stock do not fill out well, are more subject 
to disease, and fail to reach the size that they would attain if fed 
liberally upon a carefully balanced mixture. Laying hens are more 
subject to disease; acquire pernicious habits of egg eating, feather pull- 
ing, etc., simply as a result of the natural craving of an appetite un- 
satisfied. Given a carefully balanced ration, they acquire none of these 
bad habits, and show their appreciation in full baskets of strong, fer- 
tile eggs throughout the year. 

An egg is the product of a very wonderfully developed and sensi- 
tive organism, containing the nucleus of undeveloped germs for genera- 
tions upon generations to come. This action of the generative organs 
is a very heavy drain upon the hen's system; nothing parallels it in 
nature. A milch cow is an approach, but she is not drawing on her 
reproductive organs as often as in nature, but the hen has, by man's 
careful manipulation, increased her reproductive capacity many times 
over since becoming a servant of mankind. This saps her vitality and 
we can only hope to keep her wonderfully made machinery in opera- 
tion without interruption or breakdown by placing within her reach 
an abundance of such food as she likes. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 27 

APRIL. 

Proper feeding is what puts those nice, plump broilers and roasters 
on the market and gives us the big, hardy pullets that lay all winter 
and in the spring produce the kind of chicks that are bound to live if 
given half a chance. 

Cull your flock closely. Market everything that is not making val- 
uable use of every kernel of grain it eats. Don't house any loafers. 
Get them into money. 

If not intending to use broody hens for setting, break them up at 
once. Have a comfortable, cold, airy place where they may be shut 
up until they are over the brooding fever. Don't let them waste time 
on a nest. Get them to laying again. 

A good garden, a flock of hens and you can cut your grocery and 
provision bill in half, and begin to live where you only existed before. 

Get the breeding stock out of doors, give plenty of room; not too 
many females with your males. About one male to ten females. 

If you have previously lacked the nerve, take all the windows out 
of your poultry house this month, provided, of course, that they are all 
in the south side and no draughts on the roost result. Don't put them 
in again. 

Better caponize the cockerels if intended for roasters. Place in fair 
sized yards or let them run at large, and feed and feed hard. These 
chickens are going to be worth thirty cents a pound in June and you 
cannot afford to have them stand around a minute waiting for the feed 
to come. The more they eat, the better the profit; skimping the food 
doesn't pay. 

There never will be too many good poultrymen; don't be afraid of 
that. Be one of the best. 

Let a few of the hens hatch a clutch of chicks, if you have no 
incubator; set them the second time, it rests them. 

January and February hatched broilers are now selling well and 
prices during the month should be at the top. If you think there is 
more money in them as broilers, let them go now, if they are large 
enough. The market calls for larger broilers this month than in Feb- 
ruary and March and wants still larger sizes in May. Always give the 
party paying the bill what they want — if they call for two-pound broilers, 
do not send one and one-quarter pound, or you will lose in price. 

This is one of the best months to hatch pullets for middle fall and 
early winter laying. Get out all you can. 

Don't throw away that setting of eggs simply because the hen left 
the nest and they got cold. Unless they have been exposed to freezing 
temperature for 24 hours, in many instances the hatch will come along 
as if nothing had happened, if you put another hen on and let her finish 
the clutch. 

Try this year and have a nice lot of five or six pound soft roasting 
chickens to sell during the Christmas holidays. 



28 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

Use all the poultry manure in top-dressing the grass land or on the 
garden plot. 

We do not wish to discourage any of the crops of the farm, but we 
are sure that selling the milk to contractors is not good farming. We 
are positive that one-fourth of the capital invested in poultry will pay 
more profit and rapidly increase the fertility of the soil, while selling the 
milk has the opposite tendency, and entails an endless amount of hard 
labor from which proper returns are not forthcoming. 

Broilers are in better demand during the last part of April and first 
of May than at any other time of the year. 

February chickens should be weaned from brooders and placed in 
colony houses this month. 

This is a grand month to hatch out your fall layers. 

MAY. 

There is only one way to feed poultry if you would make a suc- 
cess of the business; feed them with the right kind of feed from "hatch 
to hatchet." 

Nothing but lice will cause the old hen to leave her eggs when she 
has settled down. 

Setting hens are lice breeders. This is one reason why the incu- 
bator is to be preferred for hatching chickens. 

The chickens are free from lice to begin with, and it is not such 
a difficult matter to keep the lice in subjection. 

A good many coops of poultry go to market in a crate that weighs 
as much again as the birds. Express costs just as much on the coops 
as on the birds. 

Whitewash the chicken coops and disinfect the hen houses ; disin- 
fect at least once a week, and continue through the hot months to come. 

Stop the red mites before they get started — prevention is better than 
cure. 

Outdoor brooders must be kept under a shed or some kind of sun 
protection to maintain the even hover temperature desired. In teach- 
ing young chickens to run in and out of outdoor brooders regularly, use 
sod or a pile of dirt for them to run up and down on. Also when build- 
ing their first yards make them (A) shape with the apex in the end at 
the opening of the brooder, then the chickens will have no corner to 
bunch up in during the bright sunshiny days and their education 
takes much less of the attendant's time. 

If you are through hatching, break up your pens and market the 
old cocks all but the very choice ones that you are expecting to use an- 
other year. They are a nuisance with their quarrelsome habits and are 
a continual bill of expense. 

Be liberal with your estimate and have chickens enough and to 
spare. If you have twenty-five per cent to spare when filling your laying 
houses they will always find a ready sale, and this gives you an oppor- 
tunity to cull closely and reserve only the best for yourself. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 29 

Try marketing your birds alive. We don't know of a more nerve- 
racking job than picking a lot of broilers without tearing the skins. 
Many times you can get as much for them alive as you can get for 
them dressed. The labor saved is a big item. 

Broilers are going down in price and the market is calling for 
larger birds, two and one-half to three pounds each, this month. 

March-hatched chickens should now be leaving the brooders and 
if they have been properly hardened, will take quite airy roosting coops. 

Be careful of them on cool nights when first put out; see that they 
do not pile up and smother one another. 

Don't let the rats get a foothold. 

January and February chickens intended for early market should 
have grass runs and feed before them during the balance of their 
lives. 

JUNE. 

Thousands of women are engaging in live poultry keeping, finding 
it a sure and profitable method of making money. 

If you want to use brooding hens, this and next month are good 
months to set them. They will raise a greater percentage of chicks dur- 
ing the hot weather than brooders, and if allowed to take their own 
course, will raise these and go to laying again during August and 
September, when eggs are paying a good profit. She will be found 
to do good work during the hot months in brooding chickens. Give her 
a corn field, orchard or patch of weeds in which to grow her family, 
and she will nearly pay for herself before cold weather gets her. 

Remove males from breeding yards as soon as season is over. 
Keep the best for another season. If you have three or four, put all 
together in an open yard on a good hot day at noon time and in a few 
minutes they will find the master and all future disputes will be re- 
ferred to him for settlement. Keep them by themselves until wanted for 
breeding pens. 

Begin to work off the less valuable and more broody of the old 
hens. 

Look hard for lice. Don't let the bugs get a start. 

This is a good month to caponize. 

Market all the broiler stock on hand. 

Prices are still good. 

If you are through with the incubators, give them a thorough 
cleaning, remove the old wicks, empty the oil out of the lamps, then 
store the machines in a dry place until next season. 

Don't be afraid to give the chicks all the sour milk they will eat. 
Good for them. If there is anything better, we have never found it. 

Have a closely woven wire door to your chicken house and don't 
forget to close it at night, or some rat, skunk, owl, fox, cat, mink or 
weasel may deplete your stock. 

When dressing poultry be careful to cool the carcass properly, else 
it will heat and result in loss. Cool well, keep well, is the rule. 



~: 



30 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Milk (skimmed, sweet or sour) is one of the best feeds for growing 
chickens and it will pay double the profit when turning into poultry 
that it will when fed to pigs. Give it to those youngsters to drink. 

The deadly louse is at work. 

Have you provided shade in the runs? 

Look out for rats. Do not allow them to have any hiding places 
near the coops. 

From June 1 to July 4 is the top of the market for roasting 
chickens. January and February roasters, capons and pullets should 
all be turned into money while the price is at the highest point. Here 
is where I think the roaster has great advantage over the broiler. These 
same chickens in April were broiler size and would not have sold for a 
great deal more per pound that month and were weighing only two 
pounds each. They now weigh four to five pounds each. No mortality 
and a handsome margin. 

The days begin to get hot; see that the brooders are in the shade; 
that the chickens have shade also, that they all have abundance of water 
and green food. Both are cheap and almost equally important. One- 
third of the growing chicks' living will be from green food if given a 
grass run, and how much cheaper; the gain on this ration is easy to 
figure. 

JULY. 

The demand is for heavy chickens and heavy fowls. Get busy, buy 
large male birds; use larger females in your breeding pens; feed all 
through the growing period, and you will increase the average weight 
of your flock, one to two pounds each. Think what this means to you 
when marketing. 

Spread the growing youngsters out over the hay fields this month 
after the hay is cut and you will lose nothing, next season's crop will 
be better for it, and if you lose some of the second crop it will be mucn 
better fed to the chickens than to any other farm animals. 

Do not think that the chickens can live on grasshoppers, give them 
all the feed you can get them to eat, with the grasshoppers as an extra. 

Stuff the old hens that are almost through laying with feed and 
corn. You can easily add a pound each to their weight and get more 
eggs from the change of diet. 

Look out for mites in all your new coops and houses. Also in the 
old ones, but they seem to thrive better in the new wood. 

Women make the best of poultry keepers and all find the work in- 
teresting, pleasant and very profitable. My way removes all doubt of 
success. 

Keep the house as cool as possible. 

Shady nooks are relished by the hens. 

The most profitable hens, as a rule, are not the stylish ones. 

Keep on fighting the army of lice. 

Lice like to hide away under the ends of the roosts. Every time 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 31 

you spray, lift the roosts and give the pests a dose that will drive them 
out for good and all. 

There ought to be a law forbidding over fifty chicks together. 

Be careful in gathering eggs; don't let any suspicious ones get 
mixed in. One bad egg is enough to put a question mark on the whole 
week's production, and may lose a customer. 

Renew the nests frequently. 

Don't dry feathers under the direct rays of the sun; put them in 
the shade where the air is dry and warm. 

After this season of the year it is a good thing to send broody hens 
to the market. 

July is termed a late month for hatching laying pullets, but if you 
have not ample stock by all means get out enough to make good. If 
these chickens are given as good care as outlined for June chicks, they 
will mature in January and February and make the best of summer 
and early fall layers. It is useless to expect the early hatched pullet 
to keep laying all winter and spring and still keep at it through the hot 
weather. Really, these late pullets are nearly or quite as profitable as the 
early ones, for they lay splendidly during August, September and Octo- 
ber when fresh eggs bring good prices, and at very small cost. Do not 
despise the late chickens. 

Let the March chickens have plenty of roomy roosting coops. Keep 
the feed always within reach. 

About this time, put the caponized males in yards fifty feet square 
for fifty birds, push them with fattening feed and plenty of meat scraps 
with liberal feeds of corn and barley and wheat. 

Do not hold cockerels intended for market too long. Remember, 
as a general thing the price per pound is going down after they reach 
this size and it is up to you to get your money out of them at the earli- 
est opportunity. 

For instance, a 5-pound chicken sold in August will usually bring 
eighteen to twenty cents per pound, while if the same cockerel is kept 
until November, then weighing six pounds, he will be hard and not 
worth twelve to fifteen cents per pound. In other words, you have lost 
three months feeding by holding. 

AUGUST. 

See that the growing stock has plenty of room to expand. Be sure 
that every chicken you own has plenty of elbow room to grow in and 
see that he is never overheated after nightfall. This is a bad month 
for crowded quarters. Often the seeds of next winter's crop of roup 
are sown in this month, simply by keeping the youngsters crowded into 
quarters about the right size for one-fourth the number. Results : The 
chickens are too hot at night and take cold by getting out on a chilly 
morning in September and waiting round for the sun to warm them up. 

It is somebody's fault if the little summer chicks are dying. The 
tender little fellows cannot withstand heat and lice combined. Protect 



32 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



them from the sun and get after the lice. 

The old rooster crows well, but he is a tyrant. Either sell him or 
get him away from the laying hens some other way. He pesters them 
so that they cannot do their best. 

Remember, that I have experienced about all the poultry troubles 
in the calendar. 

When the poultrymen all find out that the first year of a hen's life 
is the most profitable, they will begin to market their old hens as fast 
as they start moulting. They should push them hard the first year, 
then buy or raise pullets to take their place. Early moulters are fre- 
quently slow moulters, taking eight to ten weeks for the process, while 
the late moulters will get through in half the time. All the old surplus 
stock should now be marketed. Getting on to moulting time, and the 
egg crop is gradually dwindling. 

Leg bands will be found valuable in marking your birds. . 

August is a good money-making month. Prices of poultry are at 
good paying figures ; eggs bring better returns and chickens hatched this 
month make splendid roasters during February and March. 

August-hatched pullets will be found rather more profitable if 
turned for market than kept as layers. 

Shade, green stuff and plenty of water are all very essential for 
August chickens of all ages and sizes. Keep the different sizes by them- 
selves, we must help them all we can and let them have their share of 
the "fat of the land." 

Begin to market the old hens as they stop laying. Be sure that 
they are good and fat. 

This is a bad month for mites. 

Keep a cat or two about the poultry houses; they can be trained 
to let the chickens alone, and will save what trouble they cost many 
times over in keeping out rats and mice, the most troublesome vermin 
with which poultrymen have to contend. 

Poultrymen need plenty of houses. 

Their prosperity depends upon plenty of room for growing chickens 
and old stock at all seasons. 

Most of the failures in poultrydom can be traced back to crowded 
quarters. Birds that are crowded night or day, kept in hot brood coops 
or tight houses soon wilt away with colds, roup and canker. 

Now keep your birds healthy and you will prosper. Divide your 
flock, give the youngsters more elbow room. Most beginners in the busi- 
ness build too expensive buildings. They would have much better suc- 
cess if they covered double the space with the same money. Cheap, 
roomy, airy houses spell success with poultry. 

I wish every one keeping poultry realized how anxious I am to have 
them succeed and how deeply I feel the fact that poultry possibilities 
are little dreamed of by the average reader. 

I try to keep all my writings free from "fairy tales" or a single 
over statement that will tend to mislead any one. In so doing I some- 



OF RAISING POULTRY. m 



times think I overstep the other way and do not paint the picture as 
highly colored as it deserves. 

I do not tell you that $10., $20 or $50 can be cleared on every bird 
kept, and that all you need is a dozen fowls in your back yard to be- 
come independent, but I know that there is no industry for the farmer, 
the suburbanite or the backyard that will begin to pay the profit for 
time and trouble expended as can be had from poultry. 

SEPTEMBER. 

I repeat my last month's warning; keep the chickens cool nights, 
do not let them pile up or sweat, see them personalty and provide plenty 
of room. Get them out of the trees as soon as the nights get frosty, put 
them in winter quarters, but keep the house cool. 

Prepare the hens now for fall and winter laying. 

Prepare the pullets also. 

LEG BAND. — Keep track of the different lots of cockerels, and your 
different breedings by a system of banding the birds. 

I do not advocate warm poultry buildings, but I do insist that they 
must be dry and free from draft. 

Now the July pullets of last year will give a nice yield of eggs at 
prices that pay handsomely. Let them stay in the house until summer; 
in fact, after they go into winter quarters never let them out of the 
house again, and you will get more eggs. 

Begin to get things pulled together for winter; it is some ways off 
but will soon be here. Get the regular fall cleaning done and by the 
latter part of the month have everything ready for a quick shift if there 
is need. More birds start in the wrong direction and toward a winter 
sickness in September than in any other month. Keep up a spraying. 
Feed every atom they will eat. 

Get the capons to market, for prices are now on the downward scale 
and it does not pay to hold them once they are in condition. 

March pullets should be laying this month. 

Keep working off the old hens, watch your flock of growing young- 
sters. If you find a number that lag behind the others, put them by 
themselves and see that they have a little better chance. 

Have your houses all cleaned out, and put in six inches of clean 
sand or loam. 

Keep the hens happy and healthy. The contented hen fills the egg 
basket. 

September hatched chicks should be brooded in out-of-door brooders. 
Each brood of chickens from one year's end to another should have a 
new spot of land to grow on, but this is particularly true of late or hot- 
weather hatches. Be sure all roofs over your plant are tight; if not 
make them so. Change the sand or gravel before the fall rains, and 
whitewash or disinfect all winter quarters. 

To get the maximum number of eggs from the amount of birds, 
confine them in small lots of from twenty-five to thirty, allowing them 



34 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

three or four square feet floor space to each bird. See that they get a 
liberal amount of pure air through one opening in the south side at all 
times, night and day, winter and summer. Do not let them out of the 
house during the winter. 

OCTOBER. 

Gather the leaves for , litter. The farmer will have some cabbage 
that did not head up good. It is just what you want. Spread it on the 
north side of the house and cover with about a foot of old hay or leaves. 
See that your house is banked up around the bottom so as to avoid 
drafts. 

All your birds should be in winter quarters this month. The earlier 
March hatches should have been under cover last month and should 
now be laying quite steadily. It is always better to house them a month 
or six weeks before they begin to lay; for fall laying is against nature's 
laws and on the slightest provocation she steps in and puts an end to 
the unnatural production and it is hard work to regain the ground lost. 

Be sure all of the chickens are out of the trees before the cold rains 
start in, and when changing birds from the trees into the houses, see 
that the houses are as cold as they can be kept during the nights with- 
out having draughts striking the birds on the roosts. 

Take your window out of the poultry house; substitute waterproof 
sheeting or muslin; your hens will thank you for it, — more eggs, — better 
health. 

Select next season's breeders now, and choose the ones that have 
made the most rapid growth as youngsters, i. e., the ones that have 
reached four to five pounds' weight in the least number of days and at 
that weight would have presented an attractive carcass dressed. 

See that they eat as much bulk of mash as of the scratch-feed, and 
if they show too much partiality for the scratch feed cut it short for a 
few days until they are eating the mash freely. 

Some chickens grow one end at a time and during their early days 
are sometimes all legs, while they mature into quiet, well proportioned 
stock; then again some of them have the appearance of standing still 
and making little progress for a month or more, when they shoot ahead 
again. All these should be weeded out, and a quick -growing, hearty- 
eating bird that was well proportioned at four or five pounds chosen. 
This does not mean the undersized, small, precocious chap that gets 
"cocky" when very young. These are the very ones that you should 
avoid, for they will run the size of your stock down very rapidly if bred 
from. Choose rather the male bird that does not discover that he is a 
male until six or seven months of age. He has been busy putting bone 
and muscle together and he will make the right kind of chickens. _ 

In most parts of the United States poultry should be in winter 
quarters and everything snug and in shape for the cold winter which 
is now liable to come at any time. The secret of success is proper feed- 
ing and cleanliness. Keep up their appetites and keep down the vermin. 



OF EAISING POULTRY. 35 

Get all the surplus stock and all the odds and ends marketed. Keep 
only what you can properly feed and care for. 

NOVEMBER. 

Be sure every old hen is marketed before this month is out unless 
you want them for breeders another season. 

Watch for draughts in the house. 

The hens are keeping union hours now. They say the way to a 
man's heart is through his stomach. You must jolly the hen the same 
way. 

One of the best helps toward keeping the quarters warm in winter, 
at a nominal cost, is to have the floor well littered to the depth of from 
three to six inches with dirt, cut straw, hay or leaves. This protects 
against loss of heat and prevents cold currents from below, and may also 
be used in which to scatter the grain to keep the fowls active. 

November is a month of long nights and short days; while during 
the summer months the birds are on the roosts eight hours or less and 
are busy eating the other sixteen, now the reverse is the rule and they 
should not be kept waiting a minute for the owner or attendant to feed 
them. Keep feed always there, and as soon as it is light enough they 
can begin filling up, and naturally they are at it from morning untU 
night. No chance for a feast, then a famine, as under the old system. 
This is why results are so much more certain with me. 

Never allow any one or anything to scare the chicks or fowl. The 
people who are on intimate terms with their poultry so that they can 
pick up the hens at any time are the ones who get the large egg yields. 

Choose the breed according to your fancy, if you will, and then 
stick to that variety. Continual changing has never made a successful 
poultryman. 

Stop up the cold draughts, but do not keep the fresh air out of the 
poultry houses. The poultry will stand almost any degree of cold, but 
draughts mean sure trouble. 

Better gather your eggs for hatching several times a day; during 
this kind of weather eggs quickly chill. 

Try to out-distance your -neighbor in raising poultry next spring ; 
but do it in a friendly way, don't boast about it. 

Push everything to market early this month as the late holiday 
markets are seldom satisfactory. 

July and August chickens should be pretty well feathered out and 
able to care for themselves if properly housed. 

Eggs bring long prices this month. 

DECEMBER. 

Mid- winter is here, but alfalfa is good feed ; see how well chicks like 
it in the bottom of the brooder. 

Not much room needed for poultry keeping in your back yard. 

Mark your hens with leg bands and avoid trouble with your neigh- 
bors. 



36 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



In selecting breeders for the broiler or roaster that is to be hatched 
next month, choose the male as per suggestions in October, and select 
females that are of good size, hardy, vigorous breeders, birds that from 
the shell up have never known what it was to lose a feed. I strongly 
favor the large varieties for all purposes for they lay as well and make 
much better poultry than the smaller breeds. Select hens, yearlings, 
that are well through the moulting and about ready to lay, or pullets 
that have been well matured before starting to lay, thus insurmg good- 
sized eggs, mate not over six to ten females with a male that has been 
kept away from all females until this time, and the chances are you will 
get eggs that will hatch those strong, rugged chickens that will live 
through tornado, earthquakes and blizzards. 

Be careful about shutting your house up too tight. Keep them open 
enough so you won't get any frost on the roof. 

December and January hatched chickens mature in June and bring 
the highest prices for the year. 

Keep an egg record. Try and have an intelligent idea of what your 
poultry costs you and what it returns. Don't bother with hot feeds. 
Drinking water may be warmed, but should not be hot. Keep the birds 
busy scratching. 

Back yard poultry keepers have a great advantage in some ways 
over the more fortunate farmers who are farther away from market. I 
have frequently noticed that there was a constantly increasing demand 
for strictly fresh eggs, and the man or woman who takes up poultry 
keeping in the thickly settled communities may rest assured that the 
surplus eggs he has to dispose of will bring five to twenty-five cents 
more per dozen than the wholesale prices. 

Chickens can be kept in a very little space in a shed in the back 
yard. You can buy a few dozen well developed pullets and need not raise 
any chicks unless you like. No chickens being raised, no male birds are 
kept and the neighbors have no complaint to make of his early morning 
crowing. 

It will be found in most cases that the table waste from an ordinary 
family will furnish the living for three dozen hens. With the premium 
the neighbors so willingly pay for eggs "right out of the nest," and this 
saving in the feed cost, I am safe in saying that from $3.00 to $8.00 
profit can be realized on each laying pullet. 





VIEW QN THE hELLERSTRftSS FARM KANSAS CITY MO.. 

HOME OF THE CRYSTftl VMHtTE. ORPINGTON 



USE MY WAY AND YOU CAN RAISE THESE BY THE THOUSANDS 



How I Made Three Thousand Six Hundred ($3,600.00) Dollars 
in One Season From Thirty Hens on a Lot 24x40. 

Now, at first sight the above seems absurd and looks like an im- 
possibility, but that it has been done by me no one dare dispute, after I 
have been willing to give the names of the persons who paid me the 
money, which in itself is an evidence that no one can dispute. 

The possibilities in the poultry business are so great that no one 
can predict the future. I myself say almost every day — there is no tell- 
ing how much money can be made out of the poultry business with the 
proper amount of care, breeding and energy. 

Now, the thirty hens referred to above were in my thirty dollar 
mating yards in the spring of 1909, as per my mating list of that sea- 
son. I sold these eggs at $2.00 each. Now, why did I receive $2.00 each 
for these eggs? Because they were worth it, and you must remember 
that nearly all of these eggs were sold to breeders of chickens, and a 
breeder wants the best — no matter what they cost — where the new be- 
ginner usually wants the cheapest, and that is why he does not succeed. 

Why were these eggs worth $2.00 each? Because they came from 
the choicest breeders from my whole entire flock, which took care, work 
and scientific breeding to produce, and the breeder, unlike the new be- 
ginner, would rather pay a good price and get started at once with good 
stock. 

Now, no matter how small you start, if you start with good stock 
you are bound to produce good birds which you can dispose of readily at 
a good price. 

The above thirty hens were placed ten in a yard 8x40, right here close 
to my house, with one of my best male birds in each yard. Three times 
each day when I got up from the table I gathered up the scraps and 
went out and fed these thirty hens. There are six persons in my family 
and there were always plenty of scraps for these thirty hens. Now, why 
did I feed these thirty particular hens the table scraps? Because it is 
food that no poultryman can buy, and it is the best in the world for egg 
production, as well as for fertility and vitality. The little potato scraps, 
meat scraps, vegetables, bread crumbs, celery tops, radish tops and onion 
tops — why, there is no grain or manufactured food in the world that 



38 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

will beat it, and that is the reason why so many people living in the city 
get so many eggs and good results from a few chickens. Why, if I could 
feed my whole entire flock the table scraps I could show results that 
would surprise the world. These thirty hens received but very little 
grain. Once in two or three days I would throw in a little grain, but 
only to stimulate their appetites. 

You must also remember that besides selling $2,048.00 worth of eggs 
from these thirty hens, I hatched several hundred of their eggs myself, 
and at the same time I returned money to parties, telling them that I 
could not fill their orders, because I was bound to save out enough eggs 
for my own breeding purposes, and at the same time I was selling thou- 
sands upon thousands of dollars' worth of eggs from my other stock at 
$10.00 per setting of fifteen eggs, this being the cheapest price I had 
that season, and returned money every week for orders that I could not 
fill. I simply mention this to show you the possibilities in the poultry 
business. 

Now, the exact results from these thirty hens from September 1st, 
1908, to June 20th, 1909, were as follows : 

Thirty hens made an average of $68 each in ten months from eggs 
alone. These thirty hens laid, between September 1st, 1908, and June 
20th, 1909, four thousand and thirty-three eggs, averaging one hundred 
and forty-one eggs each in a little less than ten months' time. 

Now, I sold one thousand and twenty-four of these eggs for $2,048.00, 
leaving me three thousand two hundred and nine eggs for my own use. 
In other words, I kept three-fifths of the egg production for myself and 
sold two-fifths of the egg production for $2,048.00. Then, after dupli- 
cating the infertile eggs and sorting out I raised four hundred and 
eighteen birds myself from this mating, and I never sold a bird for less 
than $5.00, which can be verified by all my customers. 

Four hundred and eighteen birds at $5.00 each, $2,090.00; $2,048.00 
worth of eggs sold — total, $4,138.00, allowing $538.00 for labor, adver- 
tising and other expenses, leaves me a net profit of $3,600.00. If you. 
are interested, I can furnish you the names of these persons who bought 
chickens from me at $5.00 each. 

Now, the average person will say — how can I get the high prices for 
my stock and eggs that Mr. Kellerstrass gets? Simply by raising good 
stock and advertising it. If you will note there is one item of $538;00 
for labor, advertising and other expenses. Most of this $538.00 was 
spent in taking the birds to the shows, and in that way they were adver- 
tised. Whenever people find out that you have good stock they are willing 
to pay the price, whether it is for fresh eggs, for broilers, for breeding 
stock or show stock. There is always a big demand for a first-class ar- 
ticle at a good price. 

The following are the names and the addresses of the persons who 
paid me $2,048.00 for the eggs from the above thirty hens. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 39 

Names of people who bought and paid $2.00 apiece for eggs from 

thirty special hens in yards 1, 2 and 3, between September 1st, 1908, and 
June 20th, 1909: 

C. A. Anderson Spokane, Wash 15 eggs $30 matings— $30.00 

C. C. Allen Kenosha, Wis " " " " 30.00 

Thos. F. Burns Colorado Springs, Col. " " " " 30.00 

J. S. Brady Parker's Landing, Pa. " " " " 30.00 

I. M. Bellinger Mohawk, N. Y " " " " 30.00 

Ed Biederstadt Madison, Wis " " " " 30.00 

George Birk Hamilton, Ont., Can.. " " " " 30.00 

P. F. Bartlett Grafton, W. Va " " " " 30.00 

P. L. Crukshank Denver, Colo " " " " 30.00 

Mrs. M. H. Crawford. Shepardstown, W. Va. " " " " 30.00 

A. S. Crotzer Lena, 111 " " " " 30.00 

A. D. Dumenil Bartlesville, Okla. . . . " " " " 30.00 

Chas. Emmerick Dayton, Ky " " " " 30.00 

T. M. Ellis Rockford, 111 " " " " 30.00 

W. E. Etzensperger..Willoughby, Ohio. ... " " " " 30.00 

J. A. Filcher Sacramento, Cal. . . . " " " " 30.00 

Mrs. R. M. Good Chariton, Iowa " " " " 30.00 

Moses B. Griffing. . . . Shelter Isl. Hts., N. Y. " " " " 30.00 

Sig. Goodfriend Anaconda, Mont 15 " " " 30.00 

C. D. Gabel Burlington, N. D. . . . " " " " 30.00 

Chas. Gabel Hawkeye, Iowa " " " " 30.00 

Thomas E. Hunt Blue Island, 111 " " " " 30.00 

John W. Hall Northfield, Minn. . . . " " " " 30.00 

Mrs. M. D. Harris . . . Richland, Iowa " " " " 30.00 

David Hill Salina, Kans " " " " 30.00 

Mrs. J. H. Harnley. . Zion City, 111 " " " " 30.00 

W. R. Kendall Independence, Mo. . . " " " " 30.00 

T. E. Lockridge Liberty, Ind " " " " 30.00 

B. S. Long Little Sioux, Iowa. . . " " " " 30.00 

Dr. C. C. Meredith. . . Pittsburg, Pa " " " " 30.00 

J. L. Mitchell Farmington, Utah. . . " " " " 30.00 

Walter Miller Waynesburg, Pa. ... " " " " 30.00 

F. A. Maibaugh Liberty, Ind " " " " 30.00 

Dr. A. G. Manns Oconomowoc, Wis. . . " " " " 30.00 

C. L. Minnot Jeanerette, La " " " " 30.00 

Mrs. Clara Moore New Bloomfield, Pa. . " " " " 30.00 

L. O. Miller Philadelphia, Pa. ... " " " fr 30.00 

T. W. Nichols Portsmouth, Ohio. . . " " " " 30.00 

J. Boyd Pantlind Grand Rapids, Mich. " " " " 30.00 

J. M. Phillips Minden, La " " " " 30.00 

J. K. Pollock New Castle, Pa " " " " 30.00 

J. E. Richardson Shreveport, La " " " " 30.00 

Herbert C. Ryan . . . . Sault S. Marie, Mich. " " " " 30.00 

Mrs. J. L. Richardson. Nevada, Mo . " " " " 30.00 

J. H. Snyder Burns, N. Y " " " " 30.00 



40 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Mrs. J. W. Thomas . . 


. Strathcona, Alb. Can. 


tt ( 






30.00 


H. C. Williamson . . . 


. Memphis, Tenn 


a i 






30.00 


Sidney L. Wright . . . 


. Germantown, Pa. . . . 


it t 






30.00 


Ralph E. Woods .... 


. Shelton, Neb 


tt t 






30.00 


Paul E. Hatch 


. Piano, 111 


ii t 






30.00 




. Garfield, Wash 


8 ' 






16.00 


L. C. Bolick 


. Brighton, Tenn 


tt t 






16.00 


Eliza M. Chatfield . . 


. Seymour, Conn 


a i 






16.00 


Dr. J. B. Crist 


. Golconda, 111 


a i 






16.00 


Dr. R. S. Dombaugh. 


. Waldo, Ohio. ....... 


a t 






16.00 


F. R. Dunn. 


. Fruitvale, Cal 


tt t 






16.00 


Dr. F. C. Frisbie 


. Equinunk, Pa 


tt t 






16.00 


C. H. Ferran 


. Toccoa, Ga 


a t 






16.00 


E. M. Faust 


. Youngstown, Ohio. . . 


a t 






16.00 


M. B. Glotfelty 


. Sharpsburg, Pa. 


tt t 






16.00 


Chas. B. Garrison. . . 


. Fairfield, Iowa 


tt t 






16.00 


0. S. Greenwood 


. Maiden, Mass 


tt t 






16.00 


W. F. Gerhart 


. Pocahontas, Iowa. . . 


a t 






16.00 


C. W. Gillam 


. Windom, Minn 


a t 






16.00 


J. W. Hirst 


. Woodriver, Neb 


a i 






16.00 


P. J. Harllee 


. Chattahoochee, Ga. . . 


a t 






16.00 


E. C. Hoffman 


. Wheeling, W. Va . . . . 


a t 






16.00 


Rev. A. A. Jasper. . . 


. Augusta, Mo 


a i 






16.00 


W. H. Kildow 


. Tiffin, Ohio 


a t 






16.00 


Edwin J. Leonard . . 


. Elkland, Pa. . 


tt t 






16.00 


W. H. Morris 


. Knox, Ind 


a t 






16.00 


Jas. T. O'Brien 


. Cascade, Iowa 


a t 






16.00 


Mrs. W. A. Richards 


. Denton, Texas 


it t 






16.00 


Lorenzo Rogers. . . . 


. Aiken, S. C . 


tt t 






16.00 


S. S. Spencer 


. E. Cleveland, Ohio . . . 


tt t 






16.00 


Chas. F. Sherrard . . . 


. Ladd, 111. .' 


a t 






16.00 


C. S. Simpson 




tt t 






16.00 


L. K. Thompson .... 


. Princeton, 111 


it t 






16.00 


Mrs. Mary Zastrow. 


. Amhurst Jet., Wis . . . 


tt t 






16.00 


L. C. Zeak 


. Hibemia, N. J 


a t 






16.00 


A. B. Bryan 


. Danielsville, Pa 


tt t 






16.00 


A. B. Collins 


. Yates Center, Kans . . 


tt t 






16.00 


W. D. Stoyer 


. Schuylkill Haven, Pa. 


tt t 






16.00 


Alice K. Williams . . . 


. South Omaha, Neb. . . 


10 ' 






20.00 


Total 








. ..$2,048.00 



The above is a record that no breeder in the world can show, barring 
none. Mr. Grant M. Curtis, editor of the Reliable Poultry Journal, wrote 
a personal letter to each one of the above parties to satisfy himself, and 
then stated that it was the most remarkable case that he had ever seen, 
and that it just showed the possibilities in the poultry business. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



41 








GETTING THEM READY FOR THE SHOW 



How I Prepare Birds for Show Room to Win. 



Now, I can only tell you how I prepare mine. No doubt different 
breeders have different ways. But you must remember that in 1908, 
the last year that I showed, I won 90 per cent of all the premiums of- 
fered, besides winning the sweepstakes at the Chicago Shoiv for having 
the best bird in the show room, over all breeds, including the American, 
English, Mediterranean and Asiatic classes. 

Then I said that I had accomplished what I had worked for, and I 
have never shown since. 

But the following season my customers, who bought stock and eggs 
from me, won seven hundred and thirty-eight first prizes. Certificates 
signed by the Secretaries of the various shows vouching for the above I 
have published at different times in the poultry journals. 

Now, in preparing birds for the show room. About four weeks be- 
fore the show, I go through my various flocks and I pick out my best 
specimens, bring them up to the conditioning house, and from day to 
day for the following two weeks I look them over and keep sorting them 
out until at the end of two weeks I have nothing but the very choicest, 
high-class specimens left. 

Then I take a tub of warm water and some good, pure, white soap, 
and I wash the bird thoroughly, rinse him in another tub of clean water, 
then place him close to the stove and let him dry. When he is dry I put 
him in a small coop with nice, clean straw in the bottom, the coop having 
been previously prepared. I leave him there for one week, feeding and 
watering him regularly; then comes the final cleaning for the show. Al- 
ways use soft water. 

I get three tubs, set them in a row. In the first tub I have my 
warm soap suds, in which I give him a good scrubbing; then I give him 
a good rinsing in tub number two, in good, clean, soft water; then I 



42 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

rinse him again in tub number three, which is clean water with bluing 
in it just the same as you would use in washing a white shirt, collar or 
a pair of cuffs. Then I rub him with a coarse towel until I cannot get 
any more water out of his plumage. Then I place him in a nice, clean 
coop with clean straw in it, next to a red hot stove. When he is about 
half dry I sprinkle corn starch — remember powdered corn starch — all 
over him; that will give him that nice fluffy appearance when he be- 
comes thoroughly dry. But never allow your bird to sit down while he 
is drying, because if you do, his body and breast feathers will become 
ruffled and shaggy, and it will spoil his looks. 

Now the bird is ready to be shipped to the show room. But you 
are not through yet. Oh, no! The finishing touch is to be put on, and 
that I do the first morning in the show room. I take a small finger nail 
file, or a fine piece of emery paper, and I rub and polish his beak and 
his toes. Then I take equal parts of alcohol and sweet oil and a small 
piece of flannel or woolen cloth, and I rub the above solution on his comb, 
wattles and feet, and it gives him that beautiful, healthy color so much 
admired by every one. 

Now the above seems like a lot of work and bother, — but remember, 
when you go to the show room you go to win, and a few blue ribbons 
may mean thousands of dollars to you. 

Now, this one article is worth one hundred times the price of this 
book to any poultryman, because I can say frankly it has brought me 
thousands upon thousands of dollars — knowing how to condition your 
birds so they will win. 

As soon as you win a few blue ribbons, people will begin to inquire 
about the price of your eggs and stock, and you at once will find out 
that you can get $5.00, $10.00 and $20.00 per setting for your eggs in 
place of having to sell them to the market for thirty or forty cents per 
dozen. 

I say from experience you will never succeed in the fancy poultry 
business until you take your birds to the show room, and then place an 
advertisement in some good paper and you will find out how easy it is 
to make money out of the poultry business. 

I sold a doctor in Pennsylvania his stock and eggs with which he 
started in the spring of 1908. The next fall he won blue ribbons at 
Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago and numerous other large shows. He vis- 
ited my farm the next spring and told me that he had to return money 
almost daily; that all the eggs he had to spare he had sold at $20.00 pe * 
setting of fifteen eggs, and that it was impossible for him to anywhere 
near supply the demand, and that it had beat any investment he had 
ever made. 




MS 




THE ABOVE IS A PICTURE OF MY FAMOUS 
$10,000.00 HEN "PEGGY" 



THE ABOVE IS A PICTURE OF A PEN I SOLD 
FOR $7500.00 



How I Raised "Peggy," the Famous Ten Thousand ($10,000) Dol- 
lar Hen, and the Famous Pen of Five Birds That I Sold 
to Madame Paderewski for Seven Thousand 
Five Hundred ($7,500) Dollars. 



Now, I have had breeders ask me that question a thousand times — 
how I raised them? All I can say is that I raised them just the same 
way as I raised all of my other chickens. Go through your flock, study 
your birds all the time, every day in the year, every time you feed. 
When you see a good bird, pick her out, bring her up, put her in a small 
yard; watch her, study her, and see how near she comes up to the stand- 
ard of perfection. When you get about eight or ten of that kind sorted 
out, put them in a breeding pen to the best male bird that you can find, 
one that is absolutely perfect, or as nearly so as possible, and you may 
rest assured you are bound to raise good birds. Will they all be good, 
you may ask; will they all be No. 1 birds? Remember, my reputation 
is at stake in this book, and for that reason I will tell you, No! As the 
old saying is, "There is always a black sheep in every family." It is 
the same in raising chickens, swine, horses, cattle or anything else. You 
are always apt to find runts, no matter how fine they have been bred. It 
is the same with the chickens, but if we breed from good stock we are 
not apt to find very many runts. I find runts occasionally in my best 
matings. Then again, I produce some fine birds once in a great while 
in our cheaper matings. A bird that is owned by a breeder in the East 
that I consider almost as good as "Peggy," came out of a $10 setting of 



44 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



eggs that he purchased from me. She won at some of the largest shows 
in the East last season. 

Now, these are things that happen once in awhile, but common 
sense teaches us that like will produce like — ninety times in a hundred. 
Otherwise, it would be time wasted for breeders of horses, cattle, poultry, 
or anything else, to try and breed for perfection. 




THE ABOVE IS ONE OF THE NICEST THINGS TO FEED OR WATER YOUR 
CHICKENS IN. JUST USE ANY KIND OF VESSEL, AND MAKE A 
SLATTED BOX TO SET OVER IT. THEY CANT WASTE ANY 
FEED AND IT ALWAYS KEEPS THE WATER CLEAN. 



THREE POUND BROILERS AT TEN WEEKS OLD 



Should I Start a Broiler Plant, an Egg Plant or a Fancy Plant? 



Now, the above question has been asked me thousands of times. 
All I can say is that I can tell you of what experience I have had, and 
of a few cases that have been brought to my attention. Now, my honest 
and candid opinion is, in fact, I know positively, that there is money, 
and good money in all three of the above propositions, no matter which 
one a person would take up, or if a person would take up all three of 
them. All that it requires is the same as in any business — time and 
attention. 

Now, I know of one party in particular who is breeding Crystal 
White Orpingtons. She sells her little chicks to the market as squab 
broilers when they are from four to five weeks old. They bring her all 
the way from twenty-five to thirty cents apiece. I have known this lady 
to sell on an average of forty of these squab broilers per day. Then of 
course there are a good many who raise for broilers only; keep the birds 
and feed them for broiler purposes, and sell them when they become 
eight to ten weeks old, at which time they weigh from two and one-half 
to three and one-half pounds. 

But let me add right here, that if you do raise for market, it is only 
a question of time until you become a fancier and breed for fancy only; 
at least that is the history all over the world with breeders. They will 
start in raising for market. In the first or second year some one will 
come along and see a very good bird in their flock, because it is true if 
you raise for market you will surely raise lots of birds, and where you 




TWO AND ONE-HALF POUND BROILERS AT EIGHT WEEKS OLD 



46 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

raise lots of birds there must be some few, more or less, exceptionally 
good ones. You will immediately sell a bird for $25 or $50. Then is 
when you begin to open your eyes. You will learn more about how to 
breed your birds for fancy purposes, and it is only a question of a few 
years until you are raising two or three hundred for show purposes in 
the place of two or three thousand for market purposes, because the two 
or three hundred will bring you more money, with less time, than the 
two or three thousand did for market purposes. 

It is the same way with the egg plant proposition. Now, of course, 
if you figure out correctly and give it the proper amount of time, care 
and attention, there is no question in the world but what there is good 
money in an egg plant. You must remember it only costs from "ninety 
cents to one dollar and twenty-five cents" a year to keep a hen; it all de- 
pends on where you are located, on account of the price of grain. You 
can readily figure on getting twenty-five cents a dozen for your eggs in 
almost every market in this country. Of course, there are some mar- 
kets paying a good deal more, but I am figuring on the average price 
of twenty-five cents a dozen. So you must remember that your hen only 
has to lay from forty-eight to sixty eggs to pay for her feed for the 
whole year. 

Take for illustration that you have good stock from a good egg lay- 
ing strain; these birds ought to lay you the first year on an average of 
one hundred and eighty eggs. The reason I say on an average of one 
hundred and eighty eggs is because I can show you lots of my customers 
who are breeding my birds that get over two hundred eggs, and some 
of them as high as two hundred and fifty and two hundred and sixty 
eggs from a hen in a year. But take, for an illustration, your hen will 
lay one hundred and eighty eggs per year, that hen would earn $2.50 
over and above her feed. In other words, one thousand hens would earn 
$2,500.00 in one year over and above the cost of their feed. Now, how 
many men would it take to take care of one thousand hens? Let me say 
right here, if you start in the poultry business in a small way, say, with 
a pen of good birds, or two or three settings of eggs, the third year 
you can very easily have one thousand hens — good hens — after culling 
the culls, raised with your own hands. Now by the time you have raised 
one thousand good hens yourself, after selling off the culls to the market, 
by that time you will have experience enough that you can handle one 
thousand hens just as easily as anything in the 
world. 

But the egg plants are like the broiler 
plants. I could cite you to hundreds, yes, per- 
haps thousands, of breeders right here in this 
country, who started in for broiler or egg pro- 
duction, and they are today the most noted 
fanciers we have in our show rooms, because 
I want to say right here, that no matter which 
you breed for, you are bound to breed some 
extra good, choice birds, and just as soon as 




OF RAISING POULTRY. 



47 



you sell one single bird for $50 or $100, right then and there you are going 
to give your birds more attention. You are going to pick out the best ones ; 
you are going to pick out the ones that are bred the most perfect and 
the most true, and mate them up separately. Before you know it you 
will be in the fancy business, because there is no question in the world 
but that it is the most profitable in the whole lot in my way of looking 
at it, because you must remember that birds to sell for fancy and to sell 
for good, big prices, they must be show winners, and they will never 
be show winners unless they are bred perfect, and whenever they are 
bred perfect, then, of course, you have good birds. So do not think for 
one minute that chickens that are bred for show purposes are no good 
for broiler purposes or for egg production. That is a mistake, because 
a chicken that wins in a show room must be perfect, and whenever they 
are perfect, then of course you have good stock to breed from. 

Just stop to think — I get $30.00 for fifteen eggs. The farmer would 
have to sell one hundred (100) dozen eggs at thirty cents a dozen be- 
fore he would get $30.00. Isn't that conclusive evidence that it pays 
to raise good stock? That has been my experience in going along, and 
also in watching others in the broiler business, in the egg plant business 
and in the fancy business. 




THEY DO WELL IN YOUR BACK YARD, AS WELL 
AS ON 1 THE FARM. 



48 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 




4- FT 




4 rr. 






> 

O 

o 



20 »N. 



TT^Tl 



r 
<c>- 

O 

it 



5UN bOX 



GRASS flQOZ 



£8 f* 




rr 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 49 



On the Opposite Page I Show a Drawing of My Fireless Brooder, 
or Brooder With Heat in It, or Outdoor Brooder, or In- 
door Brooder, Just Whichever You May 
Want to Call It. 

The first one I ever built cost me thirty-five cents for the window 
sash, thirty cents for the two-inch galvanized pipe and elbows and twenty 
cents for the lamp, making eighty-five cents all told. The balance of 
the brooder was built out of old boxes. Now, when I have these brood- 
ers indoors in the brooder house, in the winter time, I do not use any 
heat after the first few days, and I take the window sash out and in 
place of it I use a frame of the same size as the window sash with a 
one-inch mesh poultry wire tacked over it to keep the chicks from jump- 
ing out. I also use this poultry screen in the brooder in place of glass 
in April, May and June when the weather is nice, when I have the brooder 
sitting out of doors. In place of using a glass chimney on the lamp, 
which is always breaking, I just take a baking powder can or a piece 
of tin and make a chimney to fit the lamp, and make it small at the top 
so that I can insert it into the two-inch pipe that goes through the 
brooder. When putting the tubing in your brooder always see that the 
outlet is a little higher than the inlet; otherwise the heat will not cir- 
culate properly and your lamp might smoke. In the hover part of the 
brooder I have a board floor covered with chaff or cut alfalfa, or cut 
clover. This we clean twice a week. Always remember cleanness is 
the road to success in the poultry business, and practice makes perfect, 
and experience is the best teacher of all. This brooder will hold fifty 
chicks for the first four or five days. Then reduce it to twenty-five, and 
when they become three or four weeks old you ought not to keep more 
than from fourteen to sixteen in the brooder; the fewer the better, as 
you will never make a success if you try to crowd your chicks; give 
them room, give them a chance to grow. 

I know of a lady who bought a setting of eggs from me one winter. 
She put them under a hen and hatched twelve chicks. A dog killed the 
hen the first day. The lady took the chicks, put them in a basket and 
put a woolen rag over them at night time, and raised every one of them. 
Was it a woolen blanket and basket that she used for the brooder that 
raised them? No. It was the care she gave them. I do not care what 
kind of a brooder or incubator or system you use, if you do not give your 
chicks the care they should have, you will never succeed. 

Good stock is the first thing; cleanness and the proper amount of 
care is the next thing, and that is the road to success in the poultry 
business. 



50 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 








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OPEN FRONT POL'LTRY HOUSE 



On the Opposite Page is a Drawing of My Kind of a Poultry 

House. 



Doctors say the best remedy for the human being is fresh air and 
plenty of it. There are more and more people who are adopting the 
system of sleeping out of doors every day. About twelve years ago I 
adopted the same principle with my chickens, and I find that my chickens 
are always healthy — never sick — no such thing as roup or sick birds 
exist on my farm, and my chickens are always healthy and stout. Oth- 
erwise they could not stand the strain of shelling out the eggs the way 
they do. Now, I build these houses nine by eighteen feet each. In that 
way I can always use eighteen-foot lumber without cutting to waste, and 
as fast as your business grows you can always add to it. You can make 
them from nine feet long up to nine hundred feet long, or as long as 
you like. You can use a dirt floor, providing your ground lies high and 
dry. Otherwise I would advise putting a board floor in them, but I pre- 
fer a dirt floor. But you have to keep your birds away from moist, 
damp ground if you expect them to do well. Moisture and dampness 
will bring on sickness quicker than anything I know of. I also clean the 
dropping boards in my hen houses daily; whitewash them twice a year 
— -spring and fall. Then I dust my hens every four weeks with lice pow- 
der, because a lousy hen or an over-fat hen will not lay enough eggs to 
pay for her feed. 

Going back to the poultry house, the open space in the front and 
the partitions are covered with two-inch mesh poultry wire. The drop 
curtains are made out of ordinary unbleached muslin. We never drop 
these curtains only on very cold nights or bitter cold days. The drop 
curtain that drops against the roost we never use until the thermometer 



52 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



registers way below freezing. The trap nests and feed boxes and drink- 
ing fountains can be placed in the houses anywhere where it is most con- 
venient. I cover the roof with some good roofing paper and also the 
outside of the north wall. Of course all of my houses face the south. 
If you haven't a south front, face them east, but never face your house 
to the north. 




A P^N OP CRYSTAL WHITE OBPiNGTQWS 
KELLERSTRASS FAHM KANSAS CITY MO. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



53 




A F&N Of CRYSTAL WHITE ORPINGTONS 
KE.U.ERSTRftSS FAHM KANSAS CITV M0-- 



THEY DO WELL IN ANY CLIMATE 



How to Keep Eggs Fresh, 



Now, there are hundreds of different ways — with lime water, and a 
whole lot of other different ways of how to keep eggs fresh. But, like 
everything else in this book, I am only going to tell you just how I keep 
mine fresh. 

After the first of July, or along about the first of July, when the 
breeding season is over with, I generally separate my males and females. 
Then the eggs are infertile that the hens lay from that on, and all the 
eggs that I get off of my farm from the first of July until about the middle 
of September or the first of October, when the breeding season starts 
again, I simply take an old whiskey barrel and put bran in it and I set 
the eggs in there with the sharp end down, the big end up, and I put in 
a layer of eggs and a layer of bran, and another layer of eggs and another 
layer of bran, and keep that up until the barrel is full. When the barrel 
is full, I take some paper and put this paper over the top of the barrel, 
and I glue it on there tight. I put a lot of glue or paste around the top 
of the barrel and press this paper down so as to make it perfectly air- 
tight, and then, to make sure, I put two or three more layers on top and 
put glue around and then tie a string around it so that I am sure it is 
air tight. 

Along about Christmas time, or New Years, we open these barrels 
and put these eggs in cases and take them to town, and they bring us 
from forty-five to sixty cents per dozen. Now I have done this for years 
and years, with the exception of the last two years, I have not taken 
them to town. I have four or five grocerymen who come out here and 
offer me from 2% to 4% cents per dozen more for my eggs than they have 
to pay for storage eggs down town, which goes to show that my eggs 
must have been better than cold storage eggs, for you can rest assured that 
they would not be fighting and competing and paying me from 21/2 to 41/2 
cents per dozen more for my eggs than they do for cold storage eggs if 
they were not worth it. 



54 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

As I said before, you will find lots of good ways to preserve eggs. 
You will find lots of recipes in poultry journals, but the above is my way 
of preserving eggs. 

Should I Supply Moisture? 

By all means, use moisture. There are some parts of Texas and Col- 
orado where they have to sprinkle their eggs almost daily during incuba- 
tion or they would never hatch a chick. We keep water in tin pans in 
the bottom of our incubators at all times. You may ask "How much?" 
That all depends upon how dry a climate you live in, but you cannot use 
too much. 

Take for illustration again the hen that steals her nest out in the 
weeds in the spring of the year during the rainy season when the grass 
is wet almost continually, common sense teaches us and we know that 
she nearly always brings out a good hatch. 



Should I Hatch With a Hen or With an Incubator? 

If you haven't had any experience with an incubator, better try the 
old-fashioned way to start with and use the hen. You can always buy a 
broody hen from some of your neighbors if you haven't one. But be sure 
and let her set for two or three days before you place the eggs under her, 
so as to make sure that she has settled down and has gotten over her 
nervous spell, and you can rest assured she will do her duty. 

But if you have any knowledge at all about incubators, it is all right 
to use the incubator, providing you follow the instructions of the maker 
of your incubator, because if you intend to raise a large number of chickens 
you will have to use the incubator sooner or later, for it is impossible to 
get enough setting hens just when a person wants to use them. 



How to Keep Eggs for Hatching. 

Some claim that eggs should be set the same day they are laid. Now 
that is all wrong, and common sense will teach us better. The hen that 
steals her nest out in the weeds or under the woodpile lays an egg a day 
for sixteen or seventeen days, and sometimes more, before she starts to 
set on them, and invariably when the hatch comes off she will bring out 
fourteen or fifteen chicks. That is all the evidence we need. We always 
let our eggs cool and set at least twenty-four to thirty hours before we put 
them into the incubator or under the hen. 

I shipped eggs to a customer of mine 'way up to the midnight sun to 
Skagway, Alaska, and on account of them getting on the wrong steamer 
and having to bring them back to San Francisco, they were on their road 
seven weeks. Now just think of it — seven weeks — and they hatched over 
seventy per cent. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 55 

As I have told you all through this book, this book is written by a 
man who has had actual experience, and it is not theory by a person who 
perhaps never raised a chicken, or may be raising a few in his back yard. 
You will find the man's name and his letter in my mating list who hatched 
the eggs in Skagway, Alaska. Now, if you want to keep your eggs for any 
length of time for hatching purposes, just place them on end in the 
regular ordinary egg case. Turn the egg case upside down once every 
twenty-four hours, and you can rest assured that they will hatch just as 
well in two or three weeks as they will the first few days. 

Remember, I am speaking from experience. I have shipped stock 
and eggs to almost every known place in this whole world. 



Fertility for Breeding Purposes. 

A hen will lay just as many eggs without being with the male bird, 
and an infertile egg will keep fresh a great deal longer than a fertile egg. 

When mating up for breeding purposes I never use the first four or 
six eggs that the hen lays. I generally wait until after the eighth or tenth 
egg before I use them for hatching. Some breeders claim that the eggs 
will be fertile on the second or third day. Now that is impossible ; at least 
I have found it so. 



How to Select the Laying Hen. 

Now, the way I select the laying hen is by her trap nest record, as 
I use trap nests in all of my breeding houses, and of course I always breed 
from the ones that have the biggest record. This is the way I established 
my big egg-producers. But for the ordinary person who does not use trap 
nests and only has a few chickens, just watch the hen that goes on the roost 
first in the evening. Go right in the hen house and chop her head off 
and eat her for your Sunday dinner. Another good and absolutely sure 
test is after the hens have all gone to roost, take a lantern and go into 
the hen house and feel of the hen's craw. The one that has a good, big, 
full craw you can rest assured has some egg material and is a good egg- 
producer and is a valuable hen and a hen you want to breed from. But 
the one that has a craw about the size of a marble — just use her for your 
Sunday dinner — you will never regret it. 

There are lots of tests, but I stake my reputation on the above, and 
you can rest assured that I have had some experience in raising egg-pro- 
ducers. 



ru: 



5< 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 




START WITH GOOD STOCK-IT PAYS 

Roup, Gapes, Chicken Pcx and Scaly Leg. 

Remove the filth, keep your chicken house on dry ground, and you 
will not be bothered with the above diseases. But sometimes chickens will 
catch the roup while in transit shipping them to and from the shows. The 
chickens may be put into an express car, and in that car there are a lot 
of roupy, mongrel chickens being shipped to the market, and the first 
thing you know your chickens have a case of roup, If so, just keep them 
in a good, dry, clean, hen house and swab their throats out three or four 
times a week by dipping a feather in some coal oil, and let them have 
plenty of fresh air and your roup or gapes will disappear. 

It also happens quite often that chickens will catch chicken pox while 
in transit and being placed alongside of a shipment of common market 
chickens. If so, just wash their comb and wattles good with warm water 
and apply carbolated vaseline three or four times a week and your chicken 
pox will disappear. 

In case of scaly leg, just take equal parts of coal oil and sweet oil, 
dip the bird's legs into this mixture three or four times a week, and your 
scaly legs will disappear. 

All of the above I know to be positive facts by actual experience. 




OF RAISING POULTRY. 



57 



Lice and Mites and How to Keep Your Chickens Looking Nice 

and Clean. 

I do not have any lice or mites on my farm, and if you ever visit my 
farm, you are at liberty to examine any or all of my five to six thousand 
birds, and you will find out that I am telling- you the truth. Why? Because 
we dust all of our hens about once a month, and in that way they never 
get started. 




THE ABOVE SHOWS HOW WE DUST 
OUR CHICKENS. 



Remember, a lousy hen will never lay enough eggs to pay for her 
feed. What do I use for dusting? I use five pounds of sulphur and five 
pounds of naphthaline mixed with a wheelbarrow full of common road 
dust; just dust gathered in the road. 

But now I am going to give you a secret that is worth more than the 
price of this book. If you raise white chickens, in the place of using road 
dust, use flour. I raise nothing but white chickens, and I mix common 
flour with the sulphur and naphthaline, and that is why people when visit- 
ing my farm always say, "Oh, my ! your chickens look so nice and clean and 
white. 

Remember, there is nothing nicer than a flock of clean, nice, pure 
white chickens. 

Breaking Up Broody Hens. 

Some breeders starve them, some dip them in water, and Lord knows 
what all they do do to them. 

Now, when we go around in the evening to shut the hen house doors, 
we look in the nest. If there is a hen in the nest, ninety-nine chances in 
a hundred, she is broody. We have a common market chicken coop hanging 
in a tree, bottom side up so that the slats are on the bottom. We place 



58 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 

her in there for twenty-four to thirty-six hours and she is ready to go 
back to work again. You understand she has to stand on these slats all 
the time, the wind blowing up through her fluff feathers, and she has no 
place to sit down. She will soon get over her broodiness. 

Now, I keep fresh water and feed in cups for them all of the time 
while in this coop, and in that way I know that I am not injuring the hen. 
Some may have better ways, but the above is my way. 



Sprouted Oats, or Feed for Ten or Fifteen Cents a Bushel, as Some 

Call It. 

Now, this is one of the greatest egg-producers or food there is for 
winter egg production, because it gives the birds green food in winter 
time, which they must have in order to do well, and especially the male 
bird for fertility. Now, I have seven boxes, each two feet wide, five feet 
long, and four inches deep. I take a bushel of oats, put them in a tub 
in the evening, pour warm water over them ; that is, water warm enough 
so that the chill is taken off. I let them soak until morning; then I pour 
them in the above named boxes and lay a wet sack over them; every day 
I stir them up with my hand and take the sprinkling can and soak the sack 
good and heavy with water. In seven days it is sprouted long enough 
to feed. The reason I have seven of these boxes is 
because it gives me one for every day in the week. 
I feed one a day and start a new one every day. A 
bushel of sprouted oats is enough for about twelve 
hundred laying hens ; at least that is the way I feed 
it. Of course others may feed differently, but there 
is one thing sure, no one has ever been able to beat 
my egg records. That is, no breeder has ever been 
able to get as much money out of eggs per hen as I 
have. If there has, I would be thankful if some poultry journal would 
make mention of it. 

How to Keep Male Birds From Fighting. 

Here is a secret worth one hundred times the price of this book: 
Several years ago, in the early part of July, when I broke up my 
breeding pens and separated my males and females, I turned all the male 
birds out together in one big yard to prepare them for their molting 
season. They got to fighting and one of my best male birds got killed ; in 
fact, a bird that I had refused three hundred and fifty dollars for. I had 
trimmed all their spurs before putting them into this yard, but there 
seemed to be one bird in the yard that was the champion over all the rest. 
I got angry and went in and caught him, took my pocket knife and cut 
the end off of his beak. There was peace in that yard from then on. That 
taught me a new trick, and I have used that principle ever since, and I 
do not have any more bloody birds with torn combs. Just find out the 
fighter and cut off the point of his beak; just the little hard part. Be 




OF RAISING POULTRY. 



59 



careful not to cut too deep so as to make it bleed or injure the bird. If 
properly done it will not harm the bird any more than to trim the point 
of your finger nail. This one thing has saved me many a good male bird. 

Trap Nests. 

A good many people asked me what kind of trap nests I use. Well, 
I use about eight or ten different makes and find them all good. Any of 




THE ABOVE SHOWS ONE OF OUR TRAP NESTS, 
MADE OUT OF AN EMPTY ORANGE BOX. 

the well advertised trap nests you read about in the poultry journals are 
good. Anything that will trap the hen will answer the purpose. I would 
not think of keeping chickens without trap nests, as it is the only way 
of telling which hen lays and which hen to breed from. Always breed 
from the biggest layers. 




60 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 




THE ABOVE ARE THE TYPE OF MALE BIRDS THAT I USE IN MY BREEDING 
PENS. THEY PRODUCE SHOW WINNERS AS WELL AS BIG EGG 

LAYERS AND BROILERS. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



61 



TESTIMONIALS 



ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES I publish a few testimonials 
from some of my customers. I do this just to give you an idea 
as to my reputation as a breeder. As I have told you all through 
this book, I AM A BREEDER; I RAISE CHICKENS, and this 
book was written by me from actual experience, and my only 
object in publishing these testimonials is to show you that I do 
know something about the chicken business. If interested, I will 
gladly furnish you the name and address of any one of the 
parties. 



Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Congratulating you on securing 
so distinguished a customer as Madame Pader- 
eivski. 

LEONARD W. LOTT , 
Editor American Fancier, New York City. 

May 12, 1908. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I herewith enclose you affidavit : 
also trap nest record of the Kellerstrass Strain 
Crystal White Orpington hen, register No. 503, 
that laid two hundred and sixty-three (263) 
eggs in 272 days. 

(Signed) P. J. HARLLEE, 

Chattahoochee, Ga., 
August 8. 1909. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Congratulations on the splendid 
showing you have made oy selling $68.00 worth 
°f ^ggs per hen from thirty hens in one sea- 
son. 

G. M. CURTIS, 

Editor Reliable Poultry Journal, 

Quincy, III. 

No hen in the world has won so many ribbons 
or is more royally treated than the Crystal 
White Orpington "PEG," owned oy Ernest Kel- 
lerstrass, Poultry Fancier, of Kansas City, Mo. 

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT. 

March 8, 1908. 

My Dear Mr. Kellerstrass: — I have sixteen 
of your hens that average tioo hundred and 
thirty-one (231) eggs per hird in twelve months. 

LAWRENCE JACKSON, 

Pittsburg, Pa., 
July 19, 1909. 



The simplest sort of a thing — common black 
dirt — has solved the problem, of eradicating a 
chicken disease which cost thirty million chicks' 
lives annually, a disease which scientists of 
the National and State Experimental Stations 
have been studying without success for ten 
years. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, the Kansas City Poultry 
Fancier, found the secret. 

ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC. 

May 23, 1909. 

The large crowds that thronged the Buffalo 
Shotv came especially to see the wonderful 
hen "Peggy" and the Kellerstrass exhibit. 

POULTRY ITEM, 
Sellers ville, Pa., 

March, 1909. 

The remarkable hen "Peggy" is owned oy 
Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass of Kansas City, Mo. 
She has traveled all over the globe capturing 
prizes. Mr. Kellerstrass has forty-eight hun- 
dred chickens of this family and "Peggy" is 
the most perfect. He controls the output of 
perfect Orpington hens. 

SUNDAY CHICAGO AMERICAN. 

March 19, 1909. 

Mr. Kellerstrass is now easily one of the 
leading and most successful breeders in Amer- 
ica, and perhaps during the past two or three 
years raised more good prize-winning birds 
on his farm, devoted exclusively to White Or- 
pingtons, than any other breed on this con- 
tinent. POULTRY SUCCESS, 

Springfield, Ohio. 
February, 1909. 

The White Orpingtons began their real his- 
tory in the American fancy when Mr. Ernest 
Kellerstrass took them up. Mr. Kellerstrass 
has done for this variety and for the breed of 
Orpingtons in general, what no man has ever 
accomplished for any other breed. 

AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, 

Chicago, III. 



62 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



It was a rare treat to spend a day in Sep- 
tember at the Kellerstrass Farm, where were 
originated the Crystal White Orpingtons, now 
famous the world over. Mr. Kellerstrass him- 
self does the work of a half dozen expert 
poultrymen and does it right. Mr. Kellerstrass 
exhibited upwards of $25,000 worth of birds at 
the Chicago Show. 

WESTERN POULTRY JOURNAL. 

Cedar Rapids, Ioiva. 

No one thing has ever come into the poultry 
shows of the United States that has attracted 
so much attention as "Peggy," the $10,000 
beauty hen, and the Kellerstrass exhibit that 
accompanies her. Mr. Kellerstrass has taken 
the chicken business out of the kindergarten 
class and has done more to encourage the 
poultry business than any ten breeders in the 
United States combined. The Kellerstrass Farm 



FINEST HEN IN THE WORLD— PRIZE 

WINNING HEN— SCORES 97% 

POINTS. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass of Kansas City, MO., 
is the owner of the most perfect fowl in the 
world, according to the National Poultry Asso- 
ciation of America. 

NEW YORK HERALD, 

March 15, 1908. 

"Peggy," the $10,000 hen owned by the Kel- 
lerstrass Farm, was viewed by over half a 
million people around the southern circuit of 
state fairs, which included Nashville, Mem- 
phis, Birmington and Atlanta. 

SOUTHERN POULTRY MAGAZINE, 

Nashville, Tenn., 
December, 1908. 




BROOD^MJRSERYYARD ON THE KELLERSTRASS FARMER D.l.KMSAS GITY, 
MO. WHERE OYER 600 OtlRYSTAII WHITE ORPINGTONS WERE RAISED LAST 
SEASON- ITvS OME QE THE WORLDS GREATEST POULTRY PLANTS 



won over ninety per cent of all premiums of- 
fered. We doubt if any breeder in the world 
ever sold stock or eggs that produced as many 
winnings in one season in so many parts of 
the country as the Kellerstrass Farm did in 
1908. The Inland Poultry Journal takes its 
hat off to men of this kind. 

JUDGE THEO. HUGHES, 
Editor Inland Poultry Journal, 

Indianapolis, Ind. 



Mr. Kellerstrass owns a farm of one hundred 
and forty acres just outside of Kansas City, 
where he raises thousands of Crystal White 
Orpingtons. 



THE INDUSTRIOUS HEN, 

Knoxville, Tenn., 
September, 1908. 



In all my dealings since I started to keep 
poultry I have found one dealer who I feel safe 
in saying can be depended upon for a strictly 
square, honest man. 

C. P. HINDS, 
In the American Poultry Advocate, 

Syracuse, N. Y., June, 1909. 



Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Your kind advice about how to 
get fertility has saved me a lot of money. 
Nearly every egg is fertile now and practically 
every pullet laying. 

RALPH E. WOODS, 

Shelton, Neb., 
April 22, 1909. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



63 



A model at which breeders aim — the Crystal 
White Orpingtons — the most noted chickens in 
the world today, originated by Ernest Keller- 
strass, Kansas City, Mo., U. S. A., are on ex- 
hibition here at the poultry show and they 
toon the first prize. They are a model at which 
breeders aim. 

HONOLULU, HAWAII, STAR, 

January 10. 1908. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Lawrence Jack- 
son won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet and hen at 
Cleveland Poultry Shotv, 1909. 



J. I. CONKEY, Secy. 



. THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. P. Knight 
won First Prize on Kellerstras Strain "Crystal" 
White Orpington pullet at Utica, N. Y., Shotv, 
1908. 

R. E. BRIGGS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Emma Comp- 
ton won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen at Kansas City, 
Mo., Poultry Show, 1909. 

P. H. Be PREE, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That W. D. Barrett 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel at Fremont, Neb., 
Show, 1908. C. W. MULLOY, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Andrew Frantz 
toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet at Summit County 
Fair, 1908, Akron, Ohio. 

H. C. MILLER, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. R. M. 
Good toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet 
at Humeston, la., Show, 1908. 



MRS. S. L. ROBINSON, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Orville S. 
Greenwood won First Prize on Kellerstrass 
Strain "Crystal" White Orpington cockerel at 
Woonsocket, R. I., Show, 1908. 

E. W. COOK, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Orville S. 
Greenicood toon First Prize on Kellerstrass 
Strain "Crystal" White Orpington pullet at 
Freeport, Me., Shoiv, 1908. 

GEO. P. COFFIN, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Martha Boots 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet and cockerel at 
Darlington, Ind., Show 1908. 

FRED KELLEY, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. L. C. Cat- 
lett won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington hen and pen at 
Baltimore, Md., Poultry Show, 1909 

G. O. BROWN, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Charles Brock- 
hoff won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet and pen at 
Concordia, Mo., Poultry Show, 1908. 



JOHN F. BRUNS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Geo. Arm- 
knecht won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet 
at Donnellson, la., Show, 1908. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Dr. A. W. 
Grubbel won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington at Concordia, Mo., 
Poultry Show, 1908. 

JOHN F. BRUNS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mary L. Haber- 
shoio toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet at Herkimer, 
N. Y., Show, 1909. 

CHAS. T. GLOO, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That P. J. Harllee 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pen, pullet and cockerel 
at Augusta, Ga., Shotv, 1908. 



W. A. HERMAN, Secy. 



CHRIS. HAFFNER, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That D. Y. Coriell 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Portsmouth, Ohio, Poultry Show, 1908. 

F. H. SHOENBERGER, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That P. J. Harllee 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pen, cockerel and pullet 
at Georgia State Shotv, at Atlanta, 1908. 

ALF. BERTHUG, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That O. F. Dieffen- 
bavher won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
'•Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet 
at Clarion, Pa., Fair, 1908. 

8. S. LAUGH LIN, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Albert F. Jor- 
dan won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet, cockerel and 
pen at Clinton, la., Show, 1908. 

KARL L. JOHNSTONE, Secy. 



64 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. L. Jack- 
son won First Prize on Kellers trass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington hen at Chicago 



Show, 1908. 



E. J. W. DIETZ, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That A. M. Robert- 
son won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet and cockerel 
at Lowell, Incl., Show, 1909. 

FRANK MALOY, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Wirt A. Cot- 
tingham won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet, cockerel and 
pen at Peoria, III., Show, 1908. 

DEWEY A. SEELEY, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. H. Robin- 
son won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel at An- 
trim, N. H., Shoiv, 1908. 

F. CRIMES, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. P. Knight 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Oswego, N. Y., Show, 1908. l 

/. N. GAYMONDS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Clara Smith 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet at DeWitt County 
Poultry Shoiv, Weldon, III., 1908. 

DR. A. V. FOOTE, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Henry Lemons 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel, pullet and pen 
at Oirard, III., Shoiv, 1908. 

H. C. RATHGEBER, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That E. B. Stephen- 
son toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet and cockerel 
at Salem, Ind., Poultry Shoxc, 1908. 

F. J. HE ACOCK, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. C. L. 
Moore icon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen at Newport, 
Pa., Shoiv, 1908. 

J. C. F. STEPHENSON, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. F. A. 

Wilcoxson won First Prize on Kellerstrass 
Strain "Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and 
pullet at Ashley, Ohio, Show, 1908. 

C. E. LONGWELL, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. C. Mertens 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet and cock at St. 
Louis, Mo., Show, 1908. 

T. W. ORCUTT, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. L. Jack- 
son won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pullet and cockerel 
at McKeesport, Pa., Poultry Show, 1908. 

B. A. MOORE, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. P. Knight 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Binghamton, N. Y., Show, 1908. 

HENRY SULART, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. F. A. Wil- 
coxson won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet 
at Carey, Ohio, Show, 1908. 

ED. CAMPBELL, JR., Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. C. Mertens 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet and cock at Mis- 
souri State Show, Trenton, 1908. 

T. E. QUI SEN BERRY, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Nerge Clark 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel, code, hen and 
pullet at Bowling Green, Ky., Poultry Show, 
1908. 

MRS. SCOTT DONALDSON, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That S. H. Gibbs 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Asheville, N. C, Poultry Show, 1908. 

MRS. C. B. CAMPBELL, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. S. Brady 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington hen, cockerel and pullet 
at Appollo, Pa., Shoiu, 1908. 

GEO. L. RUDOLF, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. M. Phillips 
won, First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel, pullet and pen 
at Hillsboro, La., Show, 1908. 

W. G. E SCOTT, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Nerge Clark 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pen, hen and cock at 
Southern Kentucky Poultry Show, 1909. 

J. T. W ATKINS, Secy. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



65 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. W. L. 
Cobine won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and hen 
at Otsego County, N. Y., Poultry Show, 1908. 

A. J. RELY E A, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Willie Olson 
icon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at the 
Upper Iowa Poultry Show, Mason City, 1908. 

JOHN D. REELER, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. L. C. Cat- 
lett won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen at Richmond, 
Va., Show, 1908. 

W. R. TODD, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. M. Phillips 
ivon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington hen, pen and pullet at 
Shreveport, La., Show, 1908. 

LOUIS M. BRIEGGERHOFF. Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That A. Odell won 
First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crystal" 
White Orpington cockerel, pullet and hen at 
Medford, Okla., Show, 1908. 

C. L. BICKERDIKE, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That D. W. Shelley 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Petersburg, III, Show, 1908. 

HARRY C. LEVERING, Secy. 







THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That John F. Nichol- 
son won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen, pullet, cock- 
erel, hen and cock at Stillwater, Okla., Show, 

1909 ROBERT A. LOW NY, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That L. K. Thomp- 
son won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet 
at Bureau County Show, Princeton, III., 1908. 

A. H. ASCHE, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That W. D. Barrett 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pen at Omaha, Neb., 
Shoiv, 1908. 

F. C. AHLQUIST, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. F. A. Wil- 
ooxson toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen at Concordia, 
Mo., Fair, 1908. 

E. K. SMITH, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Martha Boots 
toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Lafayette, Ind., Fair, 1908. 

C. W. TRAVIS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Martha Boots 
toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Crawfordsville, Ind., Fair, 1908. 

JESSE W. CANINE, Secy. 



66 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, Tllat Mrs. Wm. Irm- 
inger won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington cockerel at Clay 
County Poultry Show, 1908. 

R. L. HARBAUGH, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Dr. A. W. 
Gruebbel won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen at Concordia, 
Mo., Fair, 1908. 

ARTH KROENCKE, Secy. 

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. L. Hooson 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pen, cockerel and pullet 
at Whitesville, Mo., Poultry Show, 1908. 

J. F. CASE, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Martha Boots 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel, pullet and pen 
at Craivfordsville, Incl., Poultry Shoiv, 1909. 

J. T. NORMS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. M. S. 
Campbell icon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington hen and cock, at 
Elgin, III., Show, 1908. 

W. W. BRITTON, Secy. 



y THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. M. Phillips 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet, cockerel, hen and 
pen <it Gibsland, La., Show, 1908. 

GLEN FLEMING, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That J. M. Phillips 
fson First Prise on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal'' White Orpington pen, cockerel, hen and 
pullet at Monroe, La., Show, 1908. 

C. E. FAULK, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY,' That J. M. Phillips 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington co>vk, cockerel, hen, pullet 
and pen at Minden, La., Show, 1908. 

E. J. FALKNER, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That D. W. Shelley 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet at Buffalo Hart, 
III., Show, 1908. 

0. A. PHILLIPS, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Edward Tay- 
lor icon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington, cockerel and pen 
at Wcldon. Ill, Poultry Show, 1908. 

A. V. FOOTE, Seey. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That C. L. Wilder 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel and pullet at 
Boone, la., Fair, 1908. 

A. M. BURN SIDE, Secy. 

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Charles Adams 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington hen and cock at Denison, 
la., Show, 1908. 

C. F. CASS AD AY, Secy. 

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mrs. L. C. Cat- 
lett won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington hen, cockerel and 
pullet at Matheio Fair, 1908. 

PERCIVAL HICKS, Secy. 

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That John F. Nichol- 
son toon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain 
"Crystal" White Orpington pen, hen, cock, 
cockerel and pullet at Payne County, Okla., 
Fair, 1908. 

JOHN W. ALLISON, Secy. 

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Edward Sallee 
won First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington pullet and cockerel at 
Callaway County Poultry Shoio, 1909, Fulton, 



Mo. 



W. E. HUGGETT, Secy. 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That John Bixler 
icon First Prize on Kellerstrass Strain "Crys- 
tal" White Orpington cockerel at Wabash Val- 
ley Poultry Shoic, Cynthiana, ±nd., 1909. 

HENRY T. WILLIAMS, Secy. 

FIFTEEN CHICKS FROM FIFTEEN 
EGGS. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — / icrite to let you know the won- 
derful hatch I had from the setting of eggs 
I bought from you on the 12th of April last. 
Well, sir, I GOT FIFTEEN CHICKS OUT OF 
THE FIFTEEN EGGS, and. have fourteen liv- 
ing today, the 29th, and they are. fine. 

I have bought lots of eggs from the different- 
people, but I must say that you are THE 
MOST HONEST IN ALL THE LOT. 

II. A., 
Mystic, Iowa, 5-29-08. 

STILL HAVE TWENTY-ONE LEFT. 

Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — As I got tico settings of eggs 
from you this spring, I thought I would let 
you knoiv about them. Out of one setting I 
had ELEVEN and out of the other TWELVE 
little chicks. It is about two months since 
their icere hatched, and I STILL HAVE 
TWENTY-ONE LEFT. One of the others was 
killed by accident. I think that teas good for 
shipping so far. I am well pleased ivith them. 
I hope I can raise the rest note. 
Respectfully ' yours, 

F. B., 
Dodge, Neb., 6-11-OS. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



67 



TWELVE CHICKS, AS FINE AS CAN 
BE. 

Kellerstrass Farm,, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Gentlemen: — Received the Orpington eggs 
in due time and set them under two hens. 
From the setting of fifteen toe got TWELVE 
LITTLE CHICKS AS FINE AS CAN BE, all 
in good condition, and we are well pleased toith 
the hatch. 

Thanking you for past favors, I remain 
Yours truly, 

R. D. H., 
Lyons, Kans., 6-9-08. 

FOURTEEN HATCHED; DOING FINE. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir:— I would have had FOURTEEN 
of your Crystal White Orpingtons if the rats 
had not killed one of them. THEY ARE DO- 
ING FINE. I hope I can raise them. How 
do you sell eggs in August and September? 
Yours truly, 

MRS. G. K. 
Donnellson, Iowa, 6-14-08. 

FIFTEEN HATCHED. 

Kellerstrass Poultry Farm, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Gentlemen: — Wc received the two settings 
of eggs 0. K., and placed them under two 
hens. One hen hatched out FIFTEEN CHICKS, 
and the other HATCHED ELEVEN. There 
inrc only four infertile eggs in the thirty. 
Respectfully yours, 

J. M., 
Greenwich, Conn., 5-15-OS. 

EVERY ONE OF THE FIFTEEN 
HATCHED. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — The setting of eggs I got from 
yon when I teas in Kansas City hatched out 
this week, Wednesday, and to my delight and 
surprise EVERY ONE OF THE FIFTEEN 
HATCHED. THEY ARE A FINE BUNCH. 
The weather for the past three weeks has 
been as bad as possibly could be for hens 
setting, but my sister took the best care of the 
hen all the time, with good results, and I feel 
proud of the lot of chicks. 
Yours truly, 

W. E. M., 
Burlington, Iowa, 6-5-08. 

TWELVE CHICKS HATCHED. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, Esq., 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — I take pleasure in informing you 
that the last setting of eggs you sent me I 
set under a hen and she hatched TWELVE 
CHICKS. Every fertile egg hatched. THEY 
ARE ONE WEEK OLD TODAY AND ALL 
STRONG AND HEARTY. THEY ARE A NICE 
FLOCK FOR ONE HEN AND ARE ADMIRED 
BY EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN THEM. 
Yours truly, 

M. E. J., 
Lyons, Iowa, 7-28-08. 



FORTY-FIVE CHICKS DOING FINELY. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass^ 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — / want to write you about our 
tconderful good hatch. Out of the sixty eggs 
toe hatched forty-five chicks. We hatched 
eight chicks out of the choice setting; NINE 
OUT OF ONE SETTING; FIFTEEN OUT OF 
ONE, AND THIRTEEN OUT OF ONE. 

The chicks are beautiful and doing nicely. 
We are very proud of them, and everybody in 
the neighborhood has been to see them. 
Wishing you a successful season. I am 
Yours sincerely, 

E. L. C. 
Randolph, Mo., 4-22-08 

WENT FIVE THOUSAND MlLES UP 
TO THE LAND OF THE "MID- 
NIGHT SUN" AND STILL 
THEY HATCHED. 

I he Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Gentlemen: — / thought I would drop you a 
few lines to let you know what luck I had 
with the setting of eggs I got from you. Well, 
toe had bad luck, but through no fault of 
yours; to start with, one egg came broken, 
and then after putting them under the hen, 
she broke three, and three eggs were not fer- 
tile. So toe have eight chicks, and they are 
doing fine; in fact, we have the first White 
Orpingtons in SKAGWAY, ALASKA. 

So hoping to do better next time, and if 
these turn out all right, you may look for an 
order next spring, I remain 
Yours truly, 

W. T., 
Skagway, Alaska, 6-17-08. 

TWENTY-ONE HEALTHY CHICKS. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Gentlemen: — I bought from you tioo settings 
of eggs; one from Pen No. 2S and one from 
Pen No. 8. From Pen 28 I hatched TEN 
CHICKS; tested on the fourteenth day; tested 
out two infertile eggs; one was broken during 
hatch and two did not hatch. From Pen No. 
8 / HATCHED ELEVEN CHICKS; tested out 
two infertile eggs and two did not hatch. The 
chicks are four weeks old and I have lost but 
one chick from Pen No. 8. I have twenty fine 
healthy chicks from the two pens. I think I 
have done pretty well raising them so far. 
Yours respectfully, 

MRS. M. F., 
Logansport, Ind., 6-16-08. 

FOURTEEN OUT OF FIFTEEN ON 
TIME. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Gentlemen: — Last evening, '-on time," I 
found FOURTEEN (14) CHICKS FROM THE 
FIFTEEN EGGS PURCHASED FROM YOU. 
The fifteenth egg was not fertile; otherwise 
would have had fifteen White Orpingtons. 
Yours truly, 

D. j. H.. 
South Pasadena, Cal., June 15, 1908 



68 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



HATCHED ELEVEN STRONG CHICKS. 

Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I hatched Monday, July 18th, 
ELEVEN STRONG CHICKS, FINE AS A PIN. 
I received those eggs, before I got your letter, 
in good shape. Two eggs clear, one bad, and 
one died in trying to break the shell. I was 
much pleased and the chicks look as though 
they ivill live. They all hatched the 19th day 
of July. I thank you for your kind treatment 
and always will speak in favor of your farm. 
I expect more visitors next Sunday; believe 
they are in the city. 

G. W. K., 
Northampton, Mass., 7-18-OS. 



ELEVEN NICE BIG CHICKS. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — / take pleasure in advertising 
that I have ELEVEN (11) NICE CHICKENS 
from the setting of eggs you sent me. Two 
eggs were infertile, one bad egg and one chick 
dead in the shell. Hen accidentally rolled egg 
out of nest when getting off and allowed it to 
get chilled. CHICKS WERE AS BIG WHEN 
HATCHED AS SOME WHITE WYANDOTTES 
WERE WHEN A WEEK OLD. I will be in 
the market for a cock to mate with the pullets 
if I succeed in raising them. 
Yours cordially, 

W. E. R., 
St. Louis, Mo., 4-18-08. 




A CHOICE BREEDING TEN OF f^jTZ 
'CBYv^TAi; WHITE ORPINGTQlCS 
THE BBS £<3& LAYEEvS - 



Ok^AAAAD . THE, 

K:ELXMRS'VR.A^5S farm 

KANSAS CITY — - XvX O, 



HATCHED FOURTEEN, TWELVE AND 
TEN. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen:- — My three settings of the Crystal 
White Orpington eggs I received from you, 
about March 28th, have been hatched cmd a 
grand surprise it was. One hen brought out 
FOURTEEN CHICKS and one egg was bad. 
One brought out TWELVE CHICKS; two eggs 
had young ones in almost to maturity, one 
egg bad. The other hen brought out TEN 
CHICKS. Four eggs had young ones in dead, 
almost to maturity, one egg bad. 

I HAVE DEALT WITH LEADING BREED- 
ERS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT 
NONE EVER GAVE ME THE FERTILE EGGS 
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, AND I CANNOT 
COMPLIMENT YOU TOO MUCH, AS YOU 
DESERVE ALL AS A RELIABLE GENTLE- 
MAN. I am 

Yours respectfully, 

L. O. K., 
Pittsburg, Pa., 4-23-08. 



SHIPPED 325 MILES— MOVED THREE 

TIMES— HATCHED FOURTEEN 

OUT OF FIFTEEN. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I write to inform you that I got 
FOURTEEN LIVELY WHITE ORPINGTONS 
FROM THE FIFTEEN EGGS I ordered from 
you on April lQth. All are lively and doing 
finely. They began hatching last Thursday. 
I consider the hatch remarkable, as they were 
shipped 325 miles in the first place, and they 
were moved three different times after incu- 
bation began on account of difficulty in getting 
liens to properly attend them. The eggs seem 
to have remarkable vitality as well as fertility. 

Will you have any eggs at reduced prices 
after hatching season is over? 
Very truly, 

J. E. G, 
Kenwood Park, Iowa, 5-18-08. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



69 



ELEVEN NICE CHICKS. 

Ernest Kellerstrass. 

My Dear Sir: — Tour eggs came all right and 
I have hatched ELEVEN NICE CHICKS, hut 
the had weather killed five of them. Do they 
feather out rapidly or not? Can I expect any 
show hirds from what I raise, or will it he at 
all unlikely for me to get any? What points 
do they have to carry them to 93 or 94 score? 
If not taxing you too much, give me the points, 
as I am a new beginner with the Orpingtons. 
Yours respectfully, 

B. G. L., 
Cochran, Ca., 5-17-08. 



TWELVE HATCHED. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen:- — I received the eggs I ordered 
from you Saturday, March 28th, and set them 
Monday^ the 30th, and got a hatching of 
TWELVE LITTLE CHICKENS FROM FOUR- 
TEEN EGGS, one of the eggs being cracked; 
it had been done in the nest, as they showed 
no signs of damage in any way. The CHICKS 
ARE VERY SPRY AND NICE, and I am well 
pleased with the looks of them, and I am sure 
I will have the "WHITEST" chickens in this 
part of the country, as there are no Crystal 
White Orpingtons in this part of the country 
that I know of. I thank you for your honest 
dealing, and will want eggs from better mating 
the next time I order. 

Yours truly, 

L. B. T., 
Crothers. Pa. 



TWELVE HEALTHY, STRONG 
CHICKENS. 

Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — J have received one setting of 
eggs and got TWELVE HEALTHY AND 
STRONG CHICKENS out of the fourteen eggs; 
one egg ivas broken when we received them. 
The little chicks are note about ten days old, 
and every one is growing and as healthy as 
I have ever seen any. 

Yours truly, 

A. W. G., 
Concordia, Mo., 5-26-08. 



ELEVEN FINE STRONG CHICKS. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Feel it my duty to report the 
result. On May 12th I had a hatch of ELEV- 
EN (11) STRONG CHICKS from your eggs, 
and they are all doing splendidly so far. 
Yours respectfully, 

R. 0. J., 
Lannon, Wis., 5-28-08. 



FOURTEEN AND TWELVE HATCHED. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I have been intending to write to 
you telling you what good luck I had with the 
two settings of eggs I bought from you, but 
I have been very busy and sick on the side. 
I have FOURTEEN CRYSTAL WHITE ORP- 
INGTONS out of the first setting and TWELVE 
OUT OF THE SECOND. I think that is just 
fine. The CHICKS ARE JUST AS LIVELY 
AND STRONG AS ANY I EVER SAW, and no 
doubt will make me a flock of good No. 1 birds. 

I wish to thank you for your kindness and 
courtesies, and wish you the continued success 
of selling fine chickens. 

Yours very respectfully, 

G. C, 
Platte City, Mo., 5-22-08. 

HATCHED TWELVE CHICKS. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — About the last of April I re- 
ceived a setting of Crystal White Orpington 
eggs. THEY HATCHED US TWELVE CHICK- 
ENS; three eggs were bad. THE CHICKS 
SEEM TO BE HEALTHY. 
Respectfully, 

B. F., 
Huntsville, Mo., 5-23-08. 

TWELVE FINE CHICKS HATCHED. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — In reference to the eggs which 
I got from you on the 31st day of March and 
set the same day, they were nearly all hatched 
the 20th day of April; that is, a day before 
their time to hatch. THERE WERE TWELVE 
FINE CHICKS HATCHED, AND I AM WELL 
PLEASED WITH THE HATCH. I think they 
will make some fine chicks. The little chicks 
are doing fine. 

Yours truly, 

O. E. H., 
Wagoner, Okla., 4-26-08. 

HATCHED TWENTY-FOUR. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Gentlemen: — / make the following report: 
From Yard 30, two settings, thirty eggs, all in 
good condition, received March 23, 1908, set 
March 24th, under one black hen and one red 
hen. The black hen broke one egg in nest and 
HATCHED FOURTEEN CHICKS OUT OF 
THE FOURTEEN EGGS. The red hen 
HATCHED TWELVE CHICKS OUT OF HER 
FIFTEEN EGGS, but another hen killed two 
and one died in the nest, one egg teas infertile, 
and the other had a dead chick in it. So ive 
took off ttcenty-four nice, fine chicks and have 
them all yet. They are all we expected, "just 
splendid," and we are greatly pleased. 
Yours truly, 

H. O., 
Pond Creek, Okla., 6-1-08. 



70 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



HATCHED TWELVE FINE CHICKENS. 

Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — HATCHED TWELVE FINE 
CHICKENS out of setting of eggs from you 
and they are beauties; am going to try to raise 
all of them if care will do it. 
Yours truly, 

W. F. G., 
Pocahontas, Iowa, 5-29-08. 



GOT ELEVEN CHICKS. 

Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Would say that I received my 
setting of eggs in good shape and took pains 
to pick out one of my best hens to set them un- 
der. I made her a nest in front yard; she set 
fine; never broke an egg, but I got ELEVEN 
CHICKS. The other four eggs were not 
hatched, or had been spoiled in shipping, for 
they had not started to hatch, so I think the 
old hen done her part. 

Yours for Orpingtons, 

R. C. B., 
Huckman, Neb., 5-28-08. 



/ bought 15 eggs of Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass 
for $30.00. The chicks were hatched April 16 
and I have so far succeeded in raising all that 
were hatched. Everyone ivho sees them thinks 
they are the finest lot of chicks they ever saw. 
I am well pleased with them. I HAVE ONE 
PULLET THAT I WOULD NOT TAKE $50.00 
FOR. So you see I think I am away ahead 
on the deal. W. M., 

Pennsylvania, July 4, 1909. 

I bought eggs from Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass 
at $2.00 apiece, and will say that the chicks 
hatched from these eggs are strona healthy 
and as fine little chicks as you ever saw. 

I find that Mr. Kellerstrass gives his cus- 
tomers their money's worth. I am very much 
pleased with the square dealings I had with 
him. E. J. L., 

Pennsylvania, July 29, 1909. 

I bought eggs from Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass 
at $2.00 each. I had remarkable hatches from 
said eggs, obtaining 66%% in good, fine chicks, 
of which I am justly proud. I have visited his 
splendid farm on two occasions, at which time 
I made the acquaintance of Mr. Kellerstrass, 
and looked closely into the methods employed 
by him in the conduct of his farm, and will 
say that a view of Mr. Kellerstrass' birds would 
set the most conservative and cold-blooded 
chicken fancier to glow with enthusiasm. 

A. S. D., 
Oklahoma, July 12. 1909. 



THE FOLLOWING TESTIMONIALS 
are just a few from some of our customers, 
written during the month of July, 1909. It 
goes' to show that we please our customers. 
We will furnish you the full name and address 
of any one of them if you are interested : 



I bought eggs from the Kellerstrass Farm at 
$2.00 each. I am very ivell pleased with my 
treatment by Mr. Kellerstrass. The birds seem 
to be healthy and thrifty and look good to me, 
as I am a breeder of prize birds. I think I 
received my money's icorth, and expect in a few 
months to fill my pens by purchasing a feta 
more pullets from him. R. S. D., 

Ohio, July 12, 1909. 



J bought 15 eggs from Mr. Kellerstrass at 
$2.00 each. The chicks are not yet three 
months old and ivill weigh easily three pounds 
each at this writing. I shall, if I live, exhibit 
these wonderful birds at our State Fair in Oc- 
tober, and if justice is done in the judging 1 
shall score a triumph; $100 APIECE WOULD 
NOT BUY THESE BIRDS FROM ME. 

J. L. M., 
Utah, July 30, 1909. 



/ bought eggs from the Kellerstrass Farm at 
$2.00 each straight, and the chicks hatched 
from these eggs are chicks indeed. 

As to the vigor of the Crystal White Orp- 
ingtons, I think they are unsurpassed, as I 
have proof of that this season by the birds 
from the eggs I purchased from them last 
season, 1908 — about 95% HATCHED. The 
Kellerstrass Farm has always done the square 
thing with me, and they have my best toishes. 



J. S. B., 
Washington, July 12, 1909. 



I bought a setting of eggs from Mr. Ernest 
Kellerstrass for $30.00. The chicks hatched 
from these eggs are healthy and rugged. They 
are now about three weeks old. J. N. B., 

Neio York, July 12, 1909. 



/ bought a setting of 15 eggs from Mr. Kel- 
lerstrass for $30.00, and have nine healthy, 
vigorous chickens. They are beautiful as to 
color, shape and size for their aae and no $30 
bill would buy them. C. L. M., 

Pennsylvania, July 12, 1909. 

/ bought a setting of eggs from Mr. Ernest 
Kellerstrass for $30.00. / have seven very fine 
birds from them; all strong, large, healthy 
chicks. I have one pullet from this lot that 
$50 would not buy. I also have thirty more 
eggs that will come off next week. 

I find Mr. Kellerstrass a very fine gentleman 
with whom to do business — prompt and square, 
and he shall receive an order again next sea- 
son from me. E. F. B., 

Wisconsin, July 12, 1909. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



71 



/ bought 15 eggs from Mr. Kellerstrass and 
paid him $2.00 apiece straight for them. 1 
got ten chicks, and they are all living. I have 
handled four other breeds, and must say that 
the Crystal White Orpingtons are the best. 
They are the first to mature and they are the 
healthiest birds I have ever kept. 

J. W. II., 
Minnesota, July 12, 11)09. 

/ bought 15 eggs from Mr. Kellerstrass at 
$2.00 each, 12 of which hatched. They are 
strong and vigorous chicks. M. G. W., 

Tennessee, July 12, 1909. 

/ bought eggs of Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass at 
$2.00 each, and will say I have bought eggs 
of other dealers, but I have got the best treat- 
ment from Mr. Kellerstrass of any of them 
to date. S. S., 

Ohio, July 12, 1909. 



J bought a setting of 15 eggs from Mr. Kel- 
lerstrass for $30.00, hatching and raising 12 
chickens out of the 15 eggs. All are healthy, 
vigorous birds, and I expect to do some shoio- 
ing with them this fall and winter. 

F. A. M., 
Indiana, July 12, 1909. 



/ bought a setting of eggs from Mr. Keller- 
strass for $30.00. / hatched fourteen chicks 
from the setting. I have raised every one of 
these chicks and they are strong and healthy. 
They are perfect beauties and I can say that 
Mr. Kellerstrass has certainly been square with 
me in his dealings. I have had a very success- 
ful year all around with my Crystal White 
Orpingtons, raising 200 birds and sold about 
$100 worth of eggs besides from ten pullets^ 

P. J. H., 
Georgia, July 21, 1909. 



,£_£ 0. ***** 



^jpfP^' '^ N ^ 




AVIEW0NTHEKELLEESTBA6S FAJSM —KANSAS CITY. IMX). 
WHEKE THE*C12ySTAi; WHITE OK.FINGTONS WEKE ORIGINATE T> - 



I bought two settings of eggs from Ernest 
Kellerstrass at $30.00 per setting this spring, 
and I have never seen any better chicks any- 
where. While at present they are but half 
grown, they have great strong legs and feet. 
I have some eight hens that were hatched from 
eggs bought of Mr. Kellerstrass last season 
and they have proven to be wonderful layers 
and the most satisfactory of fowls. My deal- 
ings with Mr. Kellerstrass have been very sat- 
isfactory. Tt. E. W.. 

Nebraska, July 14. 1909. 



I bought a setting of eggs of Mr. Ernest Kel- 
lerstrass of Kansas City, Mo., at $2.00 per egg. 
I have made other purchases from Mr. Keller- 
strass and have found him a very satisfactory 
person with tchom to do business. 

T. F. B., 
Colorado. July 12, 1909. 



I bought eggs from Mr. Kellerstrass at $2.00 
each, and am well pleased with the results. 
Every egg hatched but two. Will say Mr. 
Kellerstrass is a gentleman in his dealings, per- 
fectly reliable, and if he treats all of his cus* 
tomers as he did me he will certainly wi% 
success. J. T. O'B., 

Iowa, July 20, 1909, 



I purchased eggs from Mr. Kellerstrass at 
$2.00 each. The chicks hatched from these 
eggs were very strong and vigorous. It wa* 
never my lot to have a stronger or more healthy 
lot of chickens, and growing like weeds. I 
am more than proud of them and have wished 
many times this summer that I had gotten two 
settings of eggs instead of one. I expect t» 
have them on exhibition this coming tointer and, 
expect to win some ribbons. R. M. G., 

Iowa, July 17, 1909. 



72 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



I bought some eggs from Mr. Kellerstrass at 
$2.00 each; the hatch teas good; chicks are 
vigorous; never lost a chick. Looks now as 
though we would have the best White Orping- 
tons for sale this season ive have ever had. 

T. E. L., 
Indiana, July 12. 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — In regard to the laying qualities 
of my chickens, will state that I have a pullet 
that laid 197 eggs in eight months. I have 
a hen that hatched a brood of chicks for me 
that began laying when the chicks were three 
weeks old and laid sixteen days in succession. 
Can you beat it? Mr. Hale of the Reliable 
Poultry Journal was down to see me and saw 
the hen taking care of the little chicks. He 
will have a write-up of her in the next issue. 
Are you selling hens at reduced prices? Let 
me know, 

Respectfully, 

J. C. M., 
St. Charles, Mo., July 30, 1909. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — / have been anxious for some 
time to ivrite you concerning the stock I got 
from you as to laying qualities; they sure lay. 
I think it ought to be THE BIG LAYERS, in- 
stead of the BIG WINTER LAYERS, as they 
lay the year around and certainly beat any 
strain I ever had. The following are some 
of my best results: One hen layed 227 eggs, 
another 205 and another 196. 

/ have some young stock that gives wonder- 
ful promise for next season. 

With best wishes for your continued success 
with Crystal White Orpingtons, I remain, 
Yours truly, 

G. G, 
Platte City, Mo., July 17, 1909. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Replying to yours, I only had 
two pullets from my first setting bought of 
you, hatched May 16, 1908. No. 1 commenced 
laying Jan. 16, 1909, and up to July 11 had 
laid 157 eggs, and the other to July 15. 1909, 
laid 94 eggs. 

Yours truly, 

L. K. T., 
Princeton, III., July J 6, 1909. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Up to 8-1, my pullet that I re- 
ported to you has laid 168 eggs. On July 18 
one of her pullets commenced laying at four 
and one-half months old and for four days 
after first ten days has laid each day. 

I am very well satisfied with the Orpingtons 
and can readily understand why you should 
be so well pleased and advertise so extensively. 
I have a lot of nice pullets this season. 

Respectfully L. K. T., 

Princeton, III., Aug. 4, 1909. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Your Crystal White Orpingtons 
are certainly great layers. I have placed my 
Crystal White Orpingtons (Kellerstrass Strain) 
in competition with other well known breeds, 
but I have found that the Crystal White Orp- 
ingtons are much superior. 

I have one Crystal White Orpington (Kel- 
lerstrass Strain) which has a 265 egg record. 
No other breeds for me in the future except 
the Crystal White Orpingtons. 

Yours truly, A. W. G., 

Concordia, Mo., July 21, 1909. 

Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Yours of some days ago received. 
I have one hen that has laid 259 eggs in less 
than a year, lacks about six weeks or perhaps 
two months, but set three weeks, then gave 
chickens to another hen and she went right 
to laying in a few days. I have as good la>y- 
ing strain as there is of the White Orpingtons. 
Do not forget that I am to have two females 
from your yards in September. I thought I 
would remind you of this or you might sell too 
close to let me have any. 
Respectfully, 

MRS. R. M. G., 
Chariton, Iowa, July 30, 1909. 

P. S. — My seven from your eggs are doing 
fine and want to be ready for shows. 

My Dear Mr. Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — I have a Kellerstrass strain Crys- 
tal White Orpington pullet that laid 251 eggs 
in twelve months. 

I have one pen of sixteen pullets (now hens) 
that laid 3,696 eggs in twelve months. 
I call them my "slot machines/' 
Not one of these hens has been in a broody 
coop over 48 hours at a time. 

L. J., 
Haysville, Pa., July, 1909. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I was just thinking yesterday 
that I would UJce you to know how much 
pleased I have been every hour icith the son 
of Peggy purchased from you last spring. He 
is crowing lustily right now, and is the finest 
rooster I have ever known without doubt. 

I thought you would have enjoyed a little 
rest from my pen, though I am glad of an_ ex- 
cuse in your last to hand to ivrite again. I 
enclose the laying record. Of course, they had 
a period of molting and attended four shows, 
away over a week to each show. 

My last year's pullets have laid splendidly, 
but I haven't kept a record of them. Have 
a fine lot of young stock and sold over fifty 
settings of eggs. 

The follotving is the record of my hens: 

Hen No. 375 laid 155 eggs in twelve months. 

Hen No. 567 laid 206 eggs in twelve months. 

Hen No. 719 laid 186 eggs in twelve months. 

Hen No. 5924 laid 104 eggs in twelve months. 
Yours truly, 

L. C. G, 
Gloucester, Va.. July 17, 1909. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



73 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Your letter at hand. Will say 
that I got four cockerels and one pullet out of 
the setting of eggs and raised them all. I 
had them in the show room at Music Hall Jan. 
12 to 16. I took second on pullet and third and 
fourth on cockerel. I sold the third cockerel 
at the show for $25. 

I will have to get some pullets from you this 
fall. My hen started to lay two days after 
the show, 18th of January, and up until the 
18th of July she laid 123 eggs, and she is 'bet- 
ting better all the time. 

Yours truly, W. H. L., 

Cincinnati, Ohio, July 18, 1909. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — In reply to your letter would say 
I had a pullet last year from your yard No. 
10 that is a wonder for eggs. You see, I have 
no egg record for a year, as I had none of your 
stock that commenced to lay until last Novem- 
ber, which makes only eight months. You 
know they were late hatches from your eggs 
last year. 

But the pullet I speak of began laying Nov. 
2d, and up to July 1st laid 210 eggs, and so 
far this month has only skipped one day. In 
June she became broody. I shut her up right 
away and the third day she laid, is on the 
nest bright and early and the greatest ivorker 
I ever, saiv; works and sings. I would not 
take a good deal for her. She is not over 
large, but other ways a good hen. 

I only had two pullets from your yard No. 
10. The other one has laid splendidly— -189 
eggs in eight months. M>y other two hens were 
from your yard No. 24 and are excellent lay- 
ers, but not as good as the others. I have only 
four liens. Since March 1st I sold six settings 
of eggs; have 100 chicks myself, besides some 
eggs that did not hatch. So I think that good 
from four hens. 

My young stock, especially my pullets, look 
fine. Shall send some to the larger towns this 
fall. I have a male bird hatched from eggs from 
you last spring that has run in the sun all 
summer and shoics but just a slight tinge of 
creamy look, is very nice in color and size. 
If I decided later to get a hen of you — how 
good a one could you send me? Would want 
one with a good comb and short on legs, as 
the bird I speak of is a little long on legs, and 
I should mate him up to the hen if I got her. 

I took out a little ad in a poultry journal 
advertising "Kellerstrass Strain" and had more 
orders than I could fill, while a friend of mine 
icho did not advertise the strain — simply said 
"White Orpingtons" — had very few inquiries, 
which shoics the Kellerstrass Orpingtons are 
certainly in great demand. 

Wishing you success, I remain, 

Yours truly O. M. B., 

Oneonta, N. Y., July 14, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — My records on four of my best 
hens are as follows: First Crystal White Orp- 
ington hen laid from August 1st, 1908, to 
August 1st,. 1909, 228 eggs; the next hen laid 
208 ; the next 196, and the next 181. The pul- 
let which I purchased from you for $50.00, 
which is a daughter of your great egg layer, 
Princess Louise, is the most persistent thing 
to lay eggs I have ever seen, and I expect her, 
by the close of the year, to beat the record of 
her mother, or 236 eggs. I am goinq to have 
the pictures of these two hens in the "Poultry 
Success" in September issue. They are both 
fine, large hens, weighing eight pounds each. 
My young birds are doing fine. 1 expect to 
exhibit some at the Chicago show this winter. 

Again thanking you for your kindness in 
shipping me the last eggs, I am 

Truly yours, J. S. B., 

Parker's Landing, Pa., July 26, 1909. 



Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — In reply to yours will say: 

First — My pullet christened "Sweepstakes" 
has laid 138 eggs. 

Second — "Peggy the Second" has laid 127 
eggs. 

They have had every care and are still lay- 
ing. The others are doing fine also and bid 
fair to be good show birds. 

Yours respectfully, 

C. L. H. 
Whitesville, Mo., July 28, 1909. 



Kellerstrass Poultry Farm, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — / hare a pullet that has laid 
123 eggs from Jan. 1, 1909, to July 1, 1909. 

I have a good many young chickens this 
summer. 

Yours truly, 

A. M. R., 
Morocco, Ind., July 27, 1909. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — In reply to your letter of recent 
date asking for report on Crystal White Orp- 
ington layers will say my pullets have all laid 
exceedingly well. My best layer has laid one 
hundred and seventy-six (176) eggs since Dec. 
23. I have almost a field full of chickens 
hatched from her eggs alone. She is now in 
full molt, having missed three days so far in 
July. I do not believe there is a hen or pullet 
in the world that has produced more eggs stuce 
Dec. 23 than mine has. 

With best wishes for your success, I beg to 
remain, 

Yours very truly, 

Mrs. W. A. S., 
EUsberry, Mo., July 26, 1909. 



74 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / will send you the result from 
one pullet — the only one I have. 

Hatched June 20, 1908. 

First egg laid February 4, 1909. 

Up to July 25 — 119 eggs, and lays every day. 

She is a worker in laying. 

She hatched in March twelve chicks, and lost 
about twenty-seven days in laying. So this 
would bring up about 140 eggs in five months. 

This is going some. 

In February I toill send you report for twelve 
months in full. 

I have about forty chicks coming along nicely. 
Yours truly, 

a. Wm. K., 
Northampton, Mass., July 25, 1909. 



Ernest Kellerstrass^ 

Kellerstrass Farm, Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — / happened to be at Florence, 
Ala., yesterday on the arrival there of the pen 
of Crystal White Orpingtons which were or- 
dered from you. 

They were in good condition, and I wish to- 
thank you for the splendidly beautiful bird? 
you sent me. They are certainly the most 
beautiful pen of chickens I ever saw. I am 
not surprised that all the toorld wants your 
stock of chickens. What will you sell me one 
or two settings of eggs for? 
Yours truly, 

H. C. W., 
Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 23, 1909. 




"CRYSTAL WHITE ORPINGTONS WERE ORIGINATED ON 
THE KELLBRSTRASS FARM , KANSAS OUTY, MISSOURI 
AND WE STILL RAISE THEM BY THE THOUSANDS ts 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I have eleven fine, healthy chicks 
from the $30.00 setting bought of you March 
the 1st. I am going to take extra care of 
them, and I hope I toill succeed in getting 
something that will take the blue ribbon wher- 
ever shown. I would like to have another 
setting of them, but it is too late in the sea- 
son now. 

I had a fine business this season; far better 
than I expected; could have done better if I 
had had the stock, but, as you knoio, I had a 
very few birds, consequently had to be satis- 
fied with a small business. I will be pre- 
pared for the trade another season. I have 
a fine chance of little fellows that came off in 
January and February, and they are growing 
fine. Wishing you a good and prosperous busi- 
ness, I beg to remain 

Yours truly, 

J. M. P., 

Minden, La., April 22, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — J herewith enclose you order for 
$10 for which you will please ship me, at your 
earliest convenience one setting of eggs. Would 
like for you to advise me a few days before 
shipping them. I sent my birds to Little Rock 
last week and, am proud to say, captured first 
prizes on cockerel, pullet and pen. They beat 
the world laying. A large portion of the last 
six weeks I have 100 per cent on egg produc- 
tion. Have had numerous orders and inquiries 
for both eggs and chickens. Unfortunately my 
stock is limited and I am setting all I can get. 
You will no doubt get many calls for eggs and 
stock, as I have given your address in most 
cases. I hope you will be able to furnish mer 
with a setting in the near future. 

Yours truly, 

R. H., 
Pine Bluff, Ark., 2-ll-O a 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



75 



Mr. Ernest Keller str ass 3 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Mr. Kellerstrass : — Am writing to re- 
port the success had with chickens purchased 
from you last December. One hen proved to be 
an exceptionally good one, laying NINETY- 
THREE EGGS BEFORE TAKING A REST of 
more than one day in succession. Set seven of 
her eggs on New Year's day, hatched five chicks 
which I have raised. The largest pullet tceighs 
four and one-half pounds now, and today, on 
going into the coop, found a pullet's egg which 
one of them had laid. SHE WILL NOT BE 
FOUR MONTHS OLD UNTIL MAY 20TH. 
This is a record that none of the chicken fan- 
ciers here have ever heard of, and it may sound 
"fishy" to you, but would be qualified as to its 
authenticity. Have forty chicks hatched, and 
this will occupy all the room I have. Would 
like to purchase a cock bird some time during 
the summer or fall, to mate up with these pul- 
lets. Would like one well marked, good comb, 
nearly up to standard weight; one that will 
score 93 points anyioay. Have several very 
promising cockerels on hand. Will you please 
advise me as to the purchase of cock, price, etc.? 

Thanking you for your courtesy, 1 am 
Yours cordially, 

C. J. D., 
Vandergrift, Pa., May 15, 1909. 



Ernest Kellerstrass, Esq., 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / have been most agreeably sur- 
prised at the egg production. My Orpingtons 
have FAR EXCELLED ALL EXPECTATIONS. 
I have a very fine bunch of birds and feel sure 
I'll do credit to your strain. 

If nothing prevents, I expect to enter my 
birds at a number of shoics this fall and win- 
ter, and hope to make it exceedingly hot for my 
competitors. 

I hope to have the pleasure of visiting your 
farm some time this year, as I am very anxious 
to know and see more of the Crystal White 
Orpingtons. 

Yours truly, 

R. H., 
Pine Bluff, Ark., July 23, 1909. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — The birds arrived this A. M., 
Monday, and for anything I see are in fine 
shape; and as for my opinion, think they are 
a trio of fine birds. I don't know as they are 
any relation to "Peggy" and "Biddy/' but look 
as though they might be. I have a nice place 
for them and will do my best to accomplish 
good results. Thanking you for the attention 
paid my order, and hoping I may be able to 
make a good report, I remain 
Yours truly, 

L. O. K., 
Chatham, N. Y., March 29, 1909. 



Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — You will remember that I raised 
to maturity fourteen chickens out of fifteen of 
your White Orpington eggs, and you used my 
letter in this season's mating list. When I get 
my egg premium from you I shall claim that I 
have cleared over one hundred dollars from one 
setting of your eggs within one year. I figure 
it this way: I won three prizes at two of the 
January shows on a cockerel and pullet selected 
from the flock and sold two of the cockerels 
that I did not care to keep, realizing $20 ; your 
prize will bring the proceeds to $50. I have 
$12 worth of eggs booked for March delivery, 
without any attempt at advertising, and in- 
quiries are coming in every few days. 

I have a breeding pen of one prize cockerel 
and eight females, one of the pullets scoring 
96. / have two extra cockerels besides. I value 
my breeding pen at $100. If you will agree to 
duplicate it in quality for less money, I will 
come down in price, but they are NOT FOR 
SALE. I have been requested many times to 
put a price on them; they will be worth more 
than $100 to me for breeding, for I intend to 
raise every Orpington that I can, and I know 
that I can sell every surplus egg at a fancy 
price. 

My eight pullets are laying finely and are 
laying almost as many eggs per iveek as five 
times their number of Buff Wyandotte hens 
and pullets. The judge at the Cedar Rapids 
show pronounced my cockerel the whitest bird 
he had ever judged. He scored 93 after 2% 
points had been deducted for accidental injury 
to his comb and wattles. 

My estimates may look pretty large, but it is 
just the way I see it, and all from one setting 
of eggs. I only regret that I did not invest 
$100 in eggs last season. 

Yours truly, J. E. G, 

Kenwood Park, Iowa, Feb. 22, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir : — Replying to your favor of the 
15th inst., will say I am well pleased with the 
pen of Crystal White Orpingtons received on 
the llth inst. They seem to be in good con- 
dition and not any worse for the trip. They 
are certainly nice stock. Thanking you for 
your prompt shipment, etc., 1 am 
Yours truly, 

E. A. J., 
Villa Grove, Colo., May 19, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Last year my Crystals were not 
hatched early enough to begin laying at this 
season. So I have no year's record, but am 
sending record of one of my pullets for eight 
months, thinking possibly it might excel the 
year's record of some. She was hatched May 
8, 1908 ; began laying Nov. 24, 1908, and has 
laid 142 eggs to this time and is still at it. 
Respectfully, 

C. S., 
Weldon, III., July 29, 1909. 



76 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Kellerstrass Poultry Farm, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — The pen of Crystal White Orp- 
ingtons you selected and shipped to me by 
express arrived safely this A. M., and I am 
entirely satisfied tcith your selection, and con- 
sider myself very fortunate in getting such fine 
birds for my start with this breed of chickens. 

There was some delay in receiving them, as 
there was some breakdown upon the railroad, 
but no harm resulted except that I thought 
they would never cease drinking. After satis- 
fying their thirst they seemed perfectly con- 
tented in their new home, and I shall expect 
them to begin business very soon. 

Thanking you for your careful attention to 
my order, and wishing you success, I remain 
Yours truly, 

E. P. B., 

Springfield, III., May 26, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I am about to send a pen and a 
trio of hens off to the Baltimore Show. I got 
special mention, I think, from the Richmond 
Show, because my birds, though entered in the 
pen class, were individually ahead of the prize- 
winners in the single class. They said they 
hoped I icould send up a good string, and I 
had pretty nearly as good at home as I had 
at the show. 

Hens laid all through the show ; I had not 
been back twenty-four hours before they had 
laid. I have the finest cockerel from first pen 
to breed from. 

Yours truly, 

MRS. L. C. C, 
Chattahooche , Ga., July 15, 1909. 




FEEDING TIMS ON THE KELLERSTRASS FARM , KANSAS 
QITY, MO. WHERE THE 'CRYSTAL* WHITE ORPINGTONS 
WERE ORIGINATED 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kellerstrass Farm, Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — The cockerel and four pullets ar- 
rived yesterday, and your selection teas a good 
one. We are much pleased with them. We 
have had over fifty visitors looking at them. 
Yours truly, J. B., 

Williams, Ariz., March 20, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I received the chickens in good 
condition on the 8 :35 express last night, and 
am very well pleased with them so far and hope 
they will lay soon. They seem right at home 
and are as lively as can be. 

Thanking you for your promptness and wish- 
ing you much success in the future, I am 
Yours respectfully, H. M., 
Bangor, Mich., March 18, 1909. 
Mt. Joy, Pa., 4-29-09. 



Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — I suppose you will think, after 
reading this letter, that I am a green mortal, 
but that is not the case. Something happened 
to me this time that never did before in all 
my experience. I ivrote you that I tvas dis- 
appointed in just getting six chicks out of the 
thirty eggs. I toill admit I was, but it seems 
that Providence tvas tvith me; instead of tak- 
ing the eggs atvay from the hen, as I usually 
do, I was so disgusted that I left her set two 
days longer, and to my amazement, at the end 
of the third day after the hatch should have 
come out, I went to take her off and found nine 
chicks under her. I was surely surprised ; in- 
stead of only six I have fifteen, and perfectly 
satisfied with my hatch. Had sixteen, but one 
was killed in the nest. I suppose the chick 
must have chilled the eggs and that delayed the 
hatch. 

Yours truly, 

E. W. G., 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



77 



Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I write to let you knoiv that I 
got thirteen fine Orpingtons from the prize set- 
ting of eggs that I received from you last 
month. 

My hen broke one of the eggs that would 
hare hatched. I am raising them in a home- 
made pZreless brooder, and in spite of the damp, 
cold weather, all are alive and doing finely. 

They are now eight days old, and I never 
saiv chickens do better. I can testify once 
more to the exceptional fertility and vitality 
of the Crystal White Orpingtons. 

Yours truly. J. E. C, 

Kenwood Park, Iowa, 4-22-09. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Would say that I have had fine 
success with the three settings of eggs received 
from you, receiving thirty-one fine chicks, of 
which I am very proud, and I hope I shall be 
able to raise them all. 

Yours respectfully, 

E. C. F., 
Brighton, III, 4-6-09. 



Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — In regard to the setting of Crys 
tal White Orpington eggs that I bought from 
you and which came off May <kth, 1909, I got 
six chicks out of eight eggs from your $30 
matings and five chicks out of your $10 mat- 
ings, eleven out of all, whicJi I am well satis- 
fied with. They are doing fine at this writing. 
Please remember me for your catalogue in the 
coming year. 

Yours respectfully, 

L. C. Z., 
Hibernia, X. J., May 21, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Your letter of the 2od came to 
hand yesterday, but the cockerel came through 
on Tuesday, the 26tJi. He came in good con- 
dition, and I must say that I am very well 
pleased with him. I like his shape and color 
a little better than the other one. I think 
that he will be a good breeder. I have a hen 
that scored by Judge Northrup, of New York, 
96 points; in fact, the whole pen where I am 
putting this bird scored from 93 to 96 points, 
and I think that I xoill surely get some very 
fine chicks from this pen this year. I am 
very much pleased to knoiv that you are doing 
a square and honorable business. It is a pleas- 
ure to deal with a man who holds fiis honor 
above money. I am very much pleased with 
the dealings we have had, and I thank you for 
honorable and square dealing. 

Yours most respectfully, 

L. J. Mel., 
Milton, Ore., Jan. 29, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Replying to your inquiry of July 
10th, in regard to how your birds are doing in 
my hands, icill say that I am more than pleased 
with them. I kept ten pullets for egg pur- 
poses during the last season and from the start 
I was struck with the remarkable laying qual- 
ities of one particular hen hatched from your 
eggs. She commenced laying Oct. 16, and has 
continued up to July 15, which makes 272 
days. While I had other hens during this 
period which have taken their nests to set from 
four to six times each, this hen has never taken 
to her nest to set. She will be a good hen to 
breed a non-setting class from. I used her in 
the past season simply because I had so few 
birds. In other words, this hen laid 263 eggs 
in 272 days. I never heard of this hen's equal. 
Yours truly, 

P. J. H., 

Chattahoochee, Ga., July 15, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / hatched a pullet from Crystal 
White Orpingtons on Jan. 20, 1909. that laid 
her first egg on May 15, 1909, and has laid 38 
eggs to the present time. This is the comment 
and wonder among chicken fanciers in this 
community. 

Respectfully, 

C. J. D., 
Vandergrift, Pa.. July 13, 1909. 

P. S. — This fact will be subscribed to before 
a notary if you desire. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — In answer to your inquiry as to 
the number of eggs laid by hens from the Kel- 
lerstrass Strain, I am glad to report two wJiich 
I think have an excellent record; one laying 
192, while the other laid 183. This is, of 
course, from my best hens, the others laying 
from 135 to 150. Hoping this will be of in- 
terest to you, I remain, 

Yours truly, 

A. F., 
Akron, Ohio, July 26, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — The four hens and roosters, also 
the three settings of fifteen eggs, arrived here 
this A. M. at ten o'clock. A great many ad- 
mired the fotvls, for they are a fine lot and I 
am well pleased with them. Receive my thanks 
for sending such fine birds. The eggs were all 
in first-class condition. 

Yours truly, 

C. H. L. K., 
Millers, Xev., March 7, 1909. 



78 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Yours of the 10th received. All 
of our hens have laid ivell all season and espe- 
cially one — Kate Kellerstrass — ivhich is a regu- 
lar egg machine. 

Yours very truly, 

G. C. J., 
Ottumwa, Iowa, July 23, 1909. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Kindly send me a few of your 
latest catalogues, as I have some friends wish- 
ing same. 

Yours very truly, 

G-. C. J. & SON, 
Ottumwa, Iowa, March 10. 1909. 
P. S. — Are getting orders for all eggs we can 
furnish. 



Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Received the cockerel safely yes- 
terday, the 25th inst., same arriving in splen- 
did condition. 

In reply to your letter, I must say that I am 
more than pleased with the bird you sent m,e, 
as he surpasses all my expectations. 

I had decided to commence with Crystal 
White Orpingtons, believing that the best way 
to start was by obtaining the best, and what- 
ever success I may attain will, I am sure, be 
in no small measure due to your good selection 
and fair way of dealing with me. I remain 

Yours respectfully, N. F., 

Fravel, Wash., Feb. 26, 1909. 




A S'MAP prlCT CM 'CRYSTAL WHITE ORPINGTONS AT v HOME- 
ON THE, KELLERtSTRAiSyS FARM -KANSAS dlTY, MO. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, M o. 
Dear Sir: — I should have written you several 
days ago, but was out of town for a few days. 
The pen of chickens was received in good 
shape and everyone thinks they are a fine pen. 
One hen started laying in a couple of days, and 
now I am getting three eggs a day. 
Thanking you for this pen, I am 
Yours truly, 

C. D. G., 
Oskaloosa, Iowa, 3-3-09. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — The breeding pen of Orpingtons 
arrived promptly and in fine condition. Am 
well pleased with them. One of the pullets 
started in laying on the second day after their 
arrival. 

Yours very respectfully, 

J. H. K., 
Millersburg, Pa., March 23, 1909. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — I am enclosing three first certifi- 
cates properly signed. We presume there are 
others of your patrons who have made more 
shows and taken more "firsts" than we have. 
However, wish you to know of the success we 
have had. We are much pleased with the many 
compliments toe have received on our Crystal 
White Orpingtons, and hope by another year 
to have at least a dozen prize tvinners. Our 
pullet scored 96 at Belle Plaine, la., by Judge 
Ellison. We are delighted. They call her the 
"Second Peggy" up there. I teas very much 
pleased to make the acquaintance of your son 
here at Cedar Rapids Poultry Show, and I ad- 
mired your exhibit very much. Our pullets are 
laying finely. 

Very truly, 

MRS. J. E. C, 

Kenwood Park, Iotoa, Feb. 13, 1909., 
P. S. — Do you know of any pullet shown this 
year which has scored better than ours? 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



79 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — I received your letter of December 
1st, and certainly do want your mating list and 
catalogue as soon as published. I wrote you 
some time ago, asking "If you ivould book me 
•an order for a setting of eggs, to be sent about 
March 1st, 190'9, from your $45.00 lien of 1908, 
or its equivalent, 1909, and ivould send you a 
■check in ample time to pay for eggs to be sent 
■at that time." 

You were away from home and daughter 
answered letter. I am sorry I will have no 
Kellerstrass Orpingtons for sale. I raised nine- 
teen chickens; ALL BUT ONE that hatched 
from eggs received. By culling the nineteen 
down will have a beautiful pen to hatch from. 
As I am so delighted with the birds from your 
cheaper pens, it makes me more anxious to 
have birds from your best. 

In answer to letter, we hove quite a number 
of poultry shows near us {live twenty-seven 
miles west of Harrisburg) , but as I live in a 
small town do not have room enough to raise 
more than a limited number of birds. I do not 
care to take birds myself to the shows, and do 
not have enough to justify me to send a man 
to exhibit for me. I did exhibit at show the 
time I wrote you, and took first prize: had sev- 
eral offers for my birds, but ivould not sell, as 
I look forward to raising next year from pen 
Last year I advertised in "Farm Journal" and 
was surprised at the sale I had for settings of 
eggs. 

I look forward to 1909 wi1h a great deal of 
pleasure, as I lore to take the eggs, place in 
Incubator, hatch and raise the thickens all 
myself. Have been raising chickens only four 
years and am delighted with improvement and 
success every year. Please send mating list 
irlicn published. Thanking you for your kind 
business suggestions that I am sure trill be a 
great help. I remain 

Respectfully, 

MRS. C. M., 
New Bloomfield, Pa.. 12-7-08. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass. 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Your kind favors of the 1st and 
2d at hand, and I have noted very carefully 
what you say about showing birds. I think 
that true; it is worth a great deal to shoiv 
one's birds. I am expecting to shoio i at Fre- 
mont, Lincoln and Omaha; would have liked 
to take in the other small shows, but I could 
not get the time to go. 

Mr. Kellerstrass, I have written to everyone 
who advertised in the poultry papers, of the 
Crystal White Orpingtons to buy some more 
birds, and have only succeeded in getting two 

bunches of pullets and some cockerels. I am 
going to mate out some more pens of the Crys- 
tal Whites for sale; I have now three pens that 
are for sale — one at $100, one for $75 and one 
for f-'50 per pen. 

I did not want to sell them just now, for 
they are not quite up to weight. I had a judge 
come here from Lincoln on the 1st of December 
— that ivas the first of this week — and score all 
my birds. My CRYSTAL WHITES scored 90 
and better, with cuts for weight three to five 



points. When they are up to weight they will 
be very good. 

Now, Mr. Kellerstrass, I want your new mat- 
ing list as soon as I can get it. I want some 
more eggs as quickly as I can get them. I have 
a nice old hen setting now, but no eggs of the 
CRYSTAL WHITES to put under her. How 
soon can I get a setting for her? 

I sold a pen for $75' — four pullets and one 
cockerel. I thought this a pretty good price 
for a new beginner in the Whites, but I want 
to hold up the price as high as I can, for I am 
going to raise all the Crystal Whites I can 
next season. 

I am on a deal now for ten more pullets of 
one man who bought birds of you last year, 
and I am on a deal now for a cockerel from 
another man who wants $25 for his cockerel. 
I think I will take the bird. I will have sev- 
eral birds for sale when I get them shaped up. 
I thank you very much, Mr. Kellerstrass, for 
your kindness to me. 

Yours very truly, 

W. D. B., 
Shelton, Neb., 12-4-08. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — I received the ribbons some time 
ago. I showed eit Iowa Falls and won first 
pullet. I shoived at Dows and won first cock- 
erel, first pullet and first pen. You had a 
$30.00 setting of White Orpington eggs; they 
were won for the best ten White Orpingtons in 
the Dows Shoiv, and I won them. And the 
cockerel that I shoived in Dows — D. E. Heaile 
said he was the best shaped White Orpington 
•cockerel he ever saw. Thai cockerel was from 
a setting I bought from you last year. 
Yours very truly, 

W. O., 
Dows, Iowa, 2-9-09. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — The pen of White Orpingtons ar- 
rived in good condition. I am much pleased 
with them. They are surely great egg pro- 
ducers. I have had Buff Cochins for fifteen 
years and am the head of the heap, having icon, 
the American Buff Cochin Club cup three times 
straight. 

While I like the Cochins, I am liable to 
sivitch. I am setting every Orpington egg I 
get. 

You will have to look out for me. 
Yours very truly. 

T. A. H., 
Cedar Rapiels, Iowa, April 15, 1908. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — The chickens arrived all 0. K. 
last Thursday. They are certainly very pretty 
and I believe what you say about their laying 
qualities, for we have gotten two eggs already 
from them. 

Thanking you for same, I remain 
Yours truly, 

MRS. E. L., 
Newton, Ga., Feb. 1, 1909. 



80 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Enclosed you will find two cer- 
tificates that toon this weeJc at the shoto at 
Ashley, Ohio. We are going to make eight or 
ten shows around this section, and I think we 
can win over anything in this country. We 
think wc have at least one high-class pullet, 
as she scored 93 % and teas docked tivo for 
weight. 

We only sent one cockerel and two pullets 
and won two firsts and a second. We did not 
expect to show our birds quite so early, and 
did not have them up to weight. We would 
like to have our badges to put on the coops 
next week. 

Yours very truly, 

MRS. F. A. W., 
Tiffin, Ohio, 12-4-08. 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Bear Sir: — Beg to advise you that I have 
twelve fine chicks from the eggs I got of you; 
all doing fine. 

Yours very truly, 

F. A. M., 
Liberty, Ind., March 10, 1909. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — The setting of eggs ice received 
from you on March 4:th hatched March 25th, 
and ice have eleven fine chicks. Every egg was 
fertile, but four chicks did not get out of the 
shell. 

We are pleased, as we are with all eggs re- 
ceived from you. 

Yours very truly, 

D. H., 
Salina, Kans., March 29, 1909. 




A FEW MIY HATCHED OOdKRMOH Tffi WWmJ$$ FARM - 
KANSAS CITI, MO. ORIGINATORS OP THE 'CKYSTAi; WHITE 
ORPINGTONS 



Mr. E. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — Please find enclosed $10, for 
which please send me one setting of Crystal 
White Orpington eggs. 

As to the yard they are to come from, I 
leave that to you, as you know your birds, and 
trust that you will do the best you can for the 
money. 

As for the eggs I got last year, I have two 
pullets that are real good. I had them to the 
local show. They were young, but I wanted to 
see what they were. One scored 89%, the 
other 9114, with 3% points each cut for under 
weight. One has laid twenty-two and the 
other twenty-three eggs this month, with two 
days remaining. 

I am satisfied that the laying qualities are 
in the Crystal White. Please ship my eggs 
on or about the loth of March if you can. 
Yours truly, 

H. R. S. 
Bellingham, Wash., Feb. 20, 1000. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / fully appreciate the interest you 
show in my success, and am greatly obliged to 
you for the same. I certainly wish one of your 
new mating catalogues, as 1 shall order more 
eggs of you this winter sure, and shall hope I 
may not be disappointed by not being on the 
list of fortunate buyers. 

My five pullets of Crystal White Orpington 
strain hatched April 11th, 1908, and are all 
laying now. I got the first egg November 18th, 
and before the 26th each pullet had laid her 
first egg. I shall not have any eggs to sell 
other than order I already have, as I wish to 
hatch one hundred myself from these pullets, 
and as for selling the pullets, it wttl take a 
good price to get them from me. 

Trusting I may receive a mating list from 
you as soon as possible, I remain 

Yours very sincerely, 

E. J. B., 
Detroit, Mich., 12-5-08. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



81 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — -/ received from you yesterday a 
copy of your mating list, for which I thank 
you. As to the setting of eggs that I got of 
you last June, will say that they were hatched 
on the first day of July, and ice raised ten 
chicks — five cockerels and five pullets — gath- 
ered our first eggs on the first day of January, 
and by about the loth I think they were nil 
laying. We have no exact account of the num- 
ber they laid in January, but think about 
sixty; kept a correct account of the number 
they laid in February, and procured one hun- 
dred and eleven. Noiv, that is the greatest 
record we have ever had for six Missouri pul- 
lets. 

Yours respectfully, 
Carthage, III., March 6. 1909. 
IF. B. M., 



Mr. Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City. Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Kindly allow me to thank you for 
your honorable way of doing business. Eggs 
received in good condition, and I set them the 
second day after receiving them ; hatched elev- 
en strong, health}/ chicks: am very much 
pleased and hope to be able to raise them all. 
Will give you another order in time: maybe 
this season. Can you furnish them on short 
notice? 

Yours trul;>. 

J. G. C. 
Greenville. III.. April 10. 1909. 



Mr. J. S. Jordan. 

Mr. Ernest Kcllerstrass, 

Kansas City* Mo. 

Dear Sir: — After visiting your poultry farm 
while attending the poultry show at Kansas 
City, I cannot help writing you a letter, con- 
gratulating you on your excellent system of car- 
ing for poultry. I have had the pleasure of 
visiting many poultry farms, both here and in 
the East, and I consider your poultry farm an 
ideal one. 

Your Crystal White Orpingtons I consider are 
the finest I ever had the pleasure to see. And 
your excellent trap nest system no doubt has 
enabled you to produce the finest strain of 
Crystal White Orpingtons ever produced in 
America. I was very favorably impressed with 
the large laying record of your hens. I am 
convinced that these results could not have 
been attained without your trap nest system. 
The poultry industry in this country is rapidly 
becoming one of our leading industries. Those 
who take the time and precaution to develop 
a high standard of birds icill be greatly re- 
warded for all their time and money spent. 
Your success, without a doubt,, has been 
achieved through the splendid equipments, good 
management^ and excellent variety of birds. 

Wishing you ever success, I am 
Very respectfully, 

J. S. JORDAN. 
Member and Representative of the P. G. 
Townsend Mfg. Co. 

Hutchinson, Kans., Jan. 20. 190S. 



Mr. Ernest Kcllerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — In reference to the hens you sent 
me — they are the gentlest, sweetest-natured 
birds it has ever been my pleasure to see, and 
will come up to my wife anywhere at any time, 
if she goes where they can see her. 
Yours truly, 

E. RICHARD SHI PP. 
Casper, Wyoming. Jan. 25, "09. 



Mr. Ernest Kcllerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir:- — / want to thank you for your 
courteous replies to my letters; so much dif- 
ferent from tvhat I have gotten from others. 
I wrote to some White Orpington breeders ask- 
ing if they had some of your birds, but they 
did not; they said they had "not your birds 
but better birds than yours," and answered 
about two tceeks after inquiry. You must knoiv 
how much I believed them for they did not get 
my order. 

I will icant some eggs from some of your 
good pens in season. Please consider me one 
of your friends and xvell-wishers for the "KEL- 
LERSTRASS CRYSTAL ORPINGTONS." 



RALPH E. WOODS, Shelton, Neb. 



12-3-'08. 



Kcllerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — I am glad to report that the 
chickens arrived in good shape, and can assure 
you that I am very much pleased with them. 
I found one egg in the box and got one egg 
yesterday and two today. So you see I am, 
also well pleased in this respect. I suppose 
that the eggs you shipped to me yesterday will 
arrive some time today. 

Wishing you continued success, I am, 
Yours very truly, 

{Signed) E. L. ALDRICH. 
Keokuk, Iowa, March 21, '08. 



Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — Here is a little article that 
might be of use to you in your advertising cam- 
paign: 

"Last spring I invested ten dollars with Kel- 
lerstrass for a setting of his famous White Orp- 
ingtons, being interested in the breed and to 
see tvhat results I might obtain. The eggs 
reached me in tip top shape, and I succeeded 
in hatching seven nice healthy chicks and 
raised every one of them. 

"I have in my possession, at the present 
time, six of these birds, three pullets and three 
cockerels; excellent, big, fine colored birds, and 
each of these have been scored by one of the 
best judges ir. the United States, scoring from 
90 to 95 points. Call on me and I will show 
you the score cards.'' 

Very truly yours, 

C. P. KNIGHT, Binghampton, N. Y. 
12-29-'08. 



82 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Elmendorf Stock Farm. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / am well pleased with the pen 
of birds you shipped me. I entered them here 
in the Lexington Shoiv and they were judged 
hi/ J. A. Drevenstcdt of Red Bank, N. J. I 
iron icith the pen I bought from you, first 
cock, first and second hen, and first and third 
pulU't and first pen. The birds arrived Friday, 
the first of January, in fine condition from the 
trip. 

Thanking you for your selection of the pen 
and your prompt shipment of them, I remain, 
Yours truly.. 

LOUIS LEE II AG GIN. 
Lexington, Ky. 

P. S. — Please send me your price list of eggs. 



Kellers-truss Farm . 

Kansas City, Mo'. 

Gentlemen : — The birds arrived in fine con- 
dition, and I am delighted with them. Every 
one irlio has inspected them thinks they are all 
right. I compliment you on the way you 
ship your birds. They certainly were comfort- 
ably, yet lightly crated. I took the pen out 
to my farm and will start hatching a batch 
as soon as I get eggs enough. I am going to 
put the pen in the fall show here. There never 
was a class of ''Crystal" White Orpingtons un- 
til this year, so the farmers around will have 
a chance of seeing them. 

Yours faithfully and more than satisfactory, 

H. B. FINDLEY. 

Vancouver, B. C, July 7, 1008. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Dear Sir: — Your favor of Nov. 3rd received. 
The birds arrived in good condition. They are 
certainly the whitest Orpingtons I have seen 
and trust that their laying qualities are good. 
Kindly let me know when the cockerel teas 
hatched, the age of the females and oblige, 
Very truly yours, 

FRED H. KOSTER, 
Huntington, N. Y., Nov. 20, '08. 



Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / received your letter of some 
time ago; did not answer; I was wailing until 
I had attended a show and see what I had, at 
Buffalo Heart. III. 

I got first, second and third on pullet, with 
good competition. 

Yours respectfully, 

D. W. SHELLEY. 
Williams ville, 111., Dec. 12, "08. 



Kellerstrass Farm, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Gentlemen: — Yours of the 19th insl., to hand. 
The birds reached me all right the 11th and 1 
like their looks and also their acts. One of 
them laid an egg in three hours from the time 
she was delivered to yard. She began looking 
for a nest as soon as released. 

I think they are all right. My neighbors 
who have seen them like them. 
Respectfully, 

W. W. NORWOOD. 

Russellville, Mo., March 20, "OS. 






Judge A. O. Schilling. 

The Great Poultry Artist. 

Dear Mr. Kellerstrass. 

It may interest you to knoiv 
that in the past five years it has 
been my pleasure to have the op- 
portunity of handling and illus- 
trating a good portion of the best 
Orpingtons in this country, but 
to my mind the female, of which 
I made a study for you at the 
Jamestown Exposition was su- 
perior in Orpington shape to any 
of her kind I have handled here- 
tofore. 

I ivas much pleased to have the 
opportunity to visit your farm and 
look over the birds during my 
recent visit to Kansas City Show. 



In the pjast it has been the gen- 
eral opinion of most Orpington 
breeders that the tuhites were in- 
ferior in color and, shape to the 
others of their breed, but I am 
confident that a visit to your farm 
would change their mind. I must 
admit that I expected to find a 
feiv pens of select large white 
birds, but to see one yard after 
another of birds of quality and 
color ivas a surprise to me. 

I have visited a great many of 
the largest plants in the East, but 
up to date I cannot recall one 
tvhich impressed me so favorably 
as an ideal place. With your own 
electric power and water supply, 
you certainly have an establish- 
ment up-to-date and complete in 
every respect. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



83 



To me the future of the White 
Orpingtons looks very bright, and 
I truly believe that the time is 
not far off when these classes will 
rank among the largest in every 
show room in this country. You 
are well deserving of the credit 
and honors your birds have won, 
and the efforts you are making 
in putting this breed where it be- 
longs, at the top of the list as a 
fancy and utility fowl. 

The quality of stock you have 
shoivn at the largest Eastern and 
Western shows I am, sure has done 
much to bring them to the front, 
and I wish you continued success 
in your effort. 

With kindest regards, I beg to 
remain 

Very truly yours, 

A. 0. SCHILLING. 



Judge W. E. Stanfield. 

Chicago, III., 
Jan. 1, 1908. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — / have your request 
of recent date, asking me to state 
my opinion and just what I think, 
also any suggestion that I may 
have to offer, after a day spent 
on your farm, relative to the farm 
itself, and the "Crystal" Strain of 
White Orpingtons. It has been 
my pleasure within the past six 
years to visit every poultry farm 
in the Middle West, also several 
in the Eastern states, with but 
few exceptions, and I can say, 
without any hesitation, that I 
never saiv a more ideal place for 
a poultry farm than yours, as to 
situation, surrounding country, 
and especially the even climate 
that prevails in your section. 

These features combined assure 



a possibility in developing and 
rearing poultry to the best ad- 
vantage, which has been demon- 
strated by the farm's product, 
namely, "The Crystal White Orp- 
ingtons," that have proven their 
quality to be unequaled in every 
show of prominence in the United, 
States this past season. It would 
be impossible for me to criticise 
in any way the methods pursued 
at your farm. Your system of 
management throughout would be 
hard to improve upon, and I take 
pleasure in endorsing the farm's 
product to the poultry public and 
firmly believe the merit of the 
Single - Comb White Orpingtons 
has won for themselves an estab- 
lished place in the poultry world. 

Sincerely yours, 

W. E. STANFIELD, 
Editor and Judge. 



Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 
Jan. 10, 1908. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, U. S. A. 

Dear Friend Kellerstrass: — The 
five birds I bought of you for 
$1,000.00 arrived in good condi- 
tion and, I turned them out, and 
in less than half an hour one of 
them, laid an egg. They are sure 
what you say — the big egg pro- 
ducers. I entered them here in 
the shoiv this week and won two 
firsts and three seconds. I surely 
iv ant to represent the "Crystal" 
White Orpingtons on this side of 
the world for you. 

Yours very truly, 

WALTER C. WEEDON. 



84 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



Judge W. C. Pierce. 

Indianapolis, Ind., 

Feb. 12, 1908. 

Ernest Kellerstrass. 

Dear Sir: — / look back ivith 
pleasure at my trip to the Kansas 
City Shoiv, and my visit to the 
Kellerstrass Farm, ivhich was a 
great surprise to me in many re- 
spects, as the quality in this breed, 
as you have obtained in same. Be- 
sides the birds you had in the 
Kansas City Show, ivhich were 
marvels, we found an entire dif- 
ferent string picked out for the 
Chicago Shoiv and then hundreds 
of other specimens that id ere 
worthy of the blue ribbons in 
almost any shoiv in the land. I 
was also surprised to see 100 
acres devoted to this one breed, 
and I must state that I have never 
been upon a more up-to-date or 
better managed farm in America. 
You are making this breed one of 
the foremost breeds of the land. 
I know with your push and 
knowledge of this breed that you 
will put it to the very top of the 
breeds, both for beauty and util- 
ity. Trusting that I may have 
the pleasure of visiting your farm 
again in the near future, I am 

Very truly yours, 

W. C. PIERCE. 



Judge C. H. Rhodes. 

Topeka, Kan. 
Kellerstrass Farm,. 

The name of Kellerstrass 
reaches all over the United, States, 
and associates itself with White 
Orpingtons. Why? Because Mr. 
Kellerstrass has one of the larg- 
est and most modern equipped. 



plants that money and brains can 
produce. We visited this model 
farm January 16, and found 4,000 
White Orpingtons housed in build- 
ings specially constructed for 
healthfulness. In all of this great 
army of birds we did not see any 
droopy or sick ones. Absolute 
cleanliness in all buildings and 
yards is the safeguard adopted at 
Kellerstrass Farm. 

We noticed hundreds of young 
chickens at the incubator houses 
from one day to ten days old, 
strong, vigorous, healthy, not a 
weakling in the bunch. From 
these youngsters the great win- 
ners for 1908 and 1909 will be 
selected and sold to customers of 
this country and over the big 
pond. Mr. Kellerstrass devotes 
his entire time to the improve- 
ment and betterment of his poul- 
try business. He personally se- 
lects all shipments, and, be it said 
to his credit a dissatisfied cus- 
tomer is unknown. 

The Kellerstrass Orpingtons 
have been exhibited at all the 
large shows East and West, and 
no one breed had attracted more 
attention. 

C. H. RHODES. 



Judge W. S. Russell. 

Ottumwa, la., 
Jan. SI, 1908. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — You are to be con- 
gratulated for the high quality 
of Single-Comb White Orpingtons 
that you are exhibiting this sea- 
son. I inspected your exhibit at 
the Jamestown Exposition Poul- 
try Show, also Missouri State, and 
then again at Chicago Shoiv, and 
will say, "they are great." 

Yours truly, 

W. S. RUSSELL. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



85 



Judge Thomas W. Southard. 

Jf.3^5 Genessee St., 
Kansas City, Mo., 

Feb. 2, 1908. 

Ernest Kellerstrass, 

Pro. Kellerstrass Farm, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Dear Sir: — In reply to your let- 
ter asking me to express my 
honest opinion of you r farm, 
stock, business methods, etc., I 
will say, without flattery, you 
have much the best equipped farm 
I ever saw. And I have watched 
you perfect the "Crystal" White 
Orpingtons until today I consider 
your White Orpingtons are the 
leading strain in the world, and 
I am ivilling to back up any deal 
you make. 

Yours truly, 

T. W. SOUTHARD. 



country in type. They had the 
Buffs beaten and mere the equal of 
the Blacks. I saiv at the Farm 
hundreds and hundreds of prize 
winners, fit for the best shoivs in 
America; also the winners at all 
the large shows in America; and, 
the Crystal Palace (England) 
winners were there also, and 
about Jf,300 of their relations, ivell 
housed in comfortable buildings, 
while in the brooder house were 
hundreds of little chicks, right 
in the middle of January. Mr. 
Kellerstrass has a thoroughly 
equipped poultry farm. Were I 
to go into White Orpingtons to- 
day I should look no further, but 
tvould send my order to Mr. Kel- 
lerstrass, and am sure I could get 
the best in the world, and at rea- 
sonable prices, quality considered. 
I look forward to my visit to 
Kansas City next year, and of 
course, hope to pay the "Crystal" 
White Orpington farm a visit. 

Very truly yours, 

CHAS. V. KEELER. 



Judge C. V. Keeler. 

Winamac, Ind., 
Feb. 2, 1908. 

While judging the great Kansas 
City Show, January lUth to 18th, 
I had the pleasure of visiting the 
immense Crystal White Orpington 
Farm, owned by Mr. Ernest Kel- 
lerstrass. I have always been 
interested in White Orpingtons 
ever since they have first been 
written of in England's poultry 
papers. I found at the Farm 
acres and acres of White Orping- 
tons, all hardy, hustling, happy 
birds of the correct Orpington 
type — not Plymouth, Wyandotte, 
or Cochin type, but the correct 
Orpington type. I had the pleas- 
ure of judging these "Crystal" 
White Orpingtons at Kansas City 
last year, 1007. Saw Mr. Keller- 
strass' exhibit this year, both at 
Kansas City and Chicago. Could 
there compare them closely with 
the best Buffs and Blacks in the 



The Bonham Poultry Association. 

Bonham, Tex., 
Dec. 16, 1907. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, 
Kansas City, Mo. 

My Dear Sir: — Cockerel and 
pidlet, with extra hen, arrived in 
fine condition. They were placed 
in the show room the day after 
their arrival and covered them- 
selves with honors, tvinning first 
cockerel, first pullet and second 
hen. We are ivell pleased with 
the fine quality of your birds and 
your honest methods of business. 

Respectfully yours, 

M'KEE BLAIR. 



We get letters like the above 
almost daily. 



86 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



(From Reliable Poultry Journal, Quincy, 111., 
February, 1908.) 

Single-Comb White Orpingtons. 

Mr. Ernest Kellerstrass, Kan- 
sas City, Mo., made another won- 
derful cleaning on S. C. White 
Orpingtons, as follotvs: Cocks, 
first, second and third; hens, first, 
second, third and fourth; cock- 
erels, first, second, fourth and 
fifth; pullets, first, second, third 
and fifth. He is the originator of 
the Crystal strain of this variety 
and his Whites have been success- 
ful at the leading shows of Amer- 
ica and England. They are equal 
in size to the large Buffs and 
Blacks, and are pure white in 
color. The first White Orping- 
ton cockerel at Chicago was also 
the first cockerel at Madison 
Square Garden, N. Y., last De- 
cember. At Chicago h e w a s 
aivarded the siveepstakes for the 
best bird in the show — a great 
honor for a breed so recently in- 
troduced as the White Orpington. 
The third cock at Madison Square 
was the first winner at Chicago. 
Mr. Kellerstrass has 4,000 Single- 
Comb White Orpingtons for sale, 
and will make sixteen pens to 
supply eggs for hatching. His 
birds are of extra choice quality 
and they will please discrimin- 
ating customers. 



(Editorial taken from January Reliable Poultry 
Journal, Quincy, 111 ) 

DEVELOPING THE BUSINESS. 

We offer no apology to ^ our 
readers for publishing in this is- 
sue of R. P. J. an extended re- 
port of the results obtained by 
seventy-two of the eighty-four 
customers (all that replied to our 
letters of inquiry) who last sea- 
son paid Kellerstrass Farm, Kan- 
sas City, Mo., two dollars apiece 
for 1,021+ hatching eggs. 



We realize, perhaps as well as 
anybody else, that this report is 
a big free advertisement for Mr. 
Kellerstrass, but we are con- 
fronted by the thought that he is 
entitled to it on account of what 
he has done and is doing for poul- 
try culture, also by the fact that 
he is deserving of favorable pub- 
licity as a reward for the manner 
in which he treated these eggs- 
for-hatching customers. 

But our chief reason for pub- 
lishing this series of articles ivas 
not to please Mr. Kellerstrass — 
though we are glad to do that. 
The main object was threefold: 
First, tve ivished to shoiv, by Mr. 
Kellerstrass' experience, w h a t 
CAN BE DONE in the standard- 
bred poultry business; second, toe 
were glad of this opportunity to 
present in these columns RE- 
LIABLE and instructive DATA 
about the eggs - for - hatching 
branch of the poultry industry; 
third, we especially desired to use 
this case as an illustration of hoiv 
the standard-bred poultry busi- 
ness can be developed and rapidly 
extended by FAIR TREATMENT 
of customers who buy valuable 
eggs for hatching and high-priced, 
fowls for breeding purposes. 

It isn't often that a case of this 
kind is placed in an editor's hands 
with full permission to dig in and 
find out all he ivishes to know 
about hatching results, about the 
quality of the chicks obtained, 
about the methods employed in 
filling and refilling orders, in sat- 
isfying displeased customers, etc., 
etc. Possibly there are persons 
who will entertain the opinion 
that Mr. Kellerstrass took special 
pains in handling this w h o I e 
transaction. We believe that he 
did — that he did so on account 
of the high quality of the eggs 
sold and the top prices he re- 
ceived for them, but we do not 
believe for one moment thai in 
handling the fowls that laid these 
eggs or in filling the orders or in 
striving to satisfy every reason- 
able customer, Mr. Kellerstrass 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



87 



had any idea of publishing the 
facts or of allowing them to be 
published. We know that such 
was not the case. 

By referring to his printed mat- 
ter we learned that Mr. Keller- 
strass had guaranteed a fair per- 
centage of fertility in these 
high-priced eggs; therefore in 
treating his customers wells on 
that point he did no more than 
he had agreed to do. But we 
are glad to say it is shown by 
letters we received direct from 
his customers that he "made 
good" not only cheerfully, but 
promptly and liberally. 

Mr. Kellerstrass' experience and 
that of seventy -two of the eighty- 
four of his customers who replied 
to our letters, asking for results 
they obtained from the two-dollar- 
apiece eggs, represent a fair test 
of the practice of selling eggs for 
hatching to be shipped by express 
to all points of the country. It 
was mainly for this reason that 
we first took an interest in the 
matter, but the case developed, 
into the larger problem of what 
can be done in the sale of high- 
priced eggs for hatching, of how 
well the purchasers of such eggs 
can do and of how customers 
should be treated in order to give 
them their "money's worth" and 
thus win valuable business friend- 
ship. 

The most important lesson and 
fact connected with this note- 
worthy example is, what such 
treatment of customers means to 
the poultry industry! If all poul- 
trymen who sell eggs for hatch- 
ing were to take as much pains 
to benefit and satisfy their cus- 
tomers as did the proprietor of 
Kellerstrass Farm, this important 
branch of the poultry business 
woidd expand and prosper as 
never before. 

And the same is true of the 
sale of breeding stock. If a cus- 
tomer is fairly treated and does 
well, he is certain to tell his 
friends and neighbors about it, 
with the result that neiv cus- 



tomers are created. On the con- 
trary, if the first customer is 
cheated and abused, he is very 
liable to quit in disgust, doing 
so sooner or later, and by telling 
others of his loss and grievance 
he is certain to destroy confidence 
in the poultry business and thus 
prevent trade expansion. 

By his way of treating cus- 
tomers fairly, to the extent of 
giving them full value for their 
Gal 2— Fidelity-6354-Kellersts-w8 
money, Mr. Kellerstrass has 
started scores of interested per- 
sons in the poultry business — -to 
the benefit of all of us who are 
connected with the industry. The 
moral is plain; the results im- 
portant and far-reaching. 

(Reliable Poultry Journal, Quincy > 
III, Feb., 1908.) 



(American Poultry Journal, Chicago, 111. 

THE KELLERSTRASS FARM. 

A Visit to the Home of Ernest 

Kellerstrass, Kansas City, 

Mo., the Originator of 

"Crystal" White 

Orpingtons. 



The accompanying illustration 
will give the reader but a very 
faint idea of the magnitude and, 
magnificence of the home of the 
"Crystal" White Orpingtons, and 
it it beyond the power of our pen 
to do justice to this farm in writ- 
ing about same. To fully realize 
what Mr. Kellerstrass is accom- 
plishing it is necessary to pay him 
a visit, and right here we wish to 
assure our readers that they ivill 
one and all find a hearty welcome 
atvaiting them should opportun- 
ity offer them a chance to pay a 
visit to Kansas City and to the 
home of "Crystal" White Orping- 
tons. 

This farm is located about eight 
miles from the heart of Kansas 
City and can be reached by elec- 
tric car. The farm consists of 
IJfO acres and is entirely devoted 



88 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



to the production of White Orp- 
ington fowls. The ground is well 
adapted to the raising of chickens, 
as it is high and rolling, therefore 
is dry all seasons of the year. 
Forty acres of the farm is in 
orchard and here is located the 
colony houses, and the shade pro- 
vided by the fruit trees makes an 
ideal summer home for the young 
stock. The whole .farm is seeded 
to blue grass and this affords 
magnificent range for the stock. 

At the time of our visit, the 
15th of last month, Mr. Keller- 
strass informed us that he had 
U,500 head of Orpingtons on the 
farm, and offered to go through 
and count them, but we declined 
and said we would take his word 
for it. 

We ivere agreeably surprised at 
the large number of really fine- 
specimens of White Orpingtons 
we found here, as we were under 
the impression that Mr. Keller- 
strass had only a comparatively 
few really choice birds, but here 
ive found not dozens but hundreds 
of them. In fact, they had been 
culled so closely that there was 
not a really poor specimen in the 
whole flock, or, more properly 
speaking, flocks, for they were 
divided into flocks of about fifty, 
except in the larger houses and 
yards located in the orchard, 
which contained large numbers. 

One of the main draivbacks in 
former years with White Orping- 
tons was the brass in the plum- 
age, but here we found this prac- 
tically eliminated, and ive readily 
understood why the birds raised 
on this farm are called "Crystal" 
White Orpingtons. Our readers 
do not want to get the idea that 
chicken raising is a "fad" ivith 
Mr. Kellerstrass, for it is not. It 
is a plain business proposition 
with him and he is using business 
methods in conducting same, and 
is devoting his entire time and 
attention to it. Every detail has 
his personal supervision. 

Don't fail to write the Keller- 
strass Farm, R. F. D. 1, Kansas 



City, Mo., for further informa- 
tion, and mention American Poul- 
try Journal. 



WON OVER 90 PER CENT OF 

ALL PRIZES THAT WERE 

OFFERED. 



A Day With Kellerstrass, the 
Man That Put White Orp- 
ingtons on the Map. 



There are a few men that can 
read the future and profit by it; 
there are several others that homg 
onto the tail of the kite and only 
drift with the tide, and constantly 
find fault with those who are pro- 
gressive enough to do things that 
start the machinery of some big 
enterprise in motion. 

The writer has always cast in 
his lot with the live ones. No 
man can lower himself so much 
in my estimation as telling what 
a great man he has been. I could 
always get that information from 
the headstones, but I never knew 
a corporation of business men to 
go to the graveyard to find a man 
to boost their business. 

Perhaps I am getting away 
from, my story, but what's the 
odds! I had this thing on my 
mind, and I feel better now that 
I have told it to you. 

I have watched the rise of a 
good many breeds of fowls, and, 
in fairness to all, I have witnessed 
the fall of a feiv. I have known 
specialty clubs to take up a new 
breed, and make it popidar, but 
I never knew one of them to take 
up a "has been" and resurrect it. 
They claim the game is not worth 
the candle. But is it ? Well, I 
guess yes. 

You can't make a good breed 
out of a poor one, no matter how 
well you advertse it, but you can 
take a good breed that has been 
neglected and make it popidar 
again. This fact has been dem- 
onstrated, to the satisfaction of 
the poultrymen of this country 
to a certainty. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



89 



When Ernest Kellerstrass, of 
Kansas City, Missouri, decided to 
go into the poultry business on a 
big scale, he tested a number of 
the leading varieties, keeping a 
careful record of all their good 
and bad features, iveighing one 
breed or variety against the other, 
being absolutely unbiased as to 
which, under normal conditions, 
would give on his farm the best 
results, and when he found the 
White Orpingtons to be the one 
breed that gave the best financial 
results, he decided to breed them 
and give them the place in the 
fancy that his judgment told him 
they should occupy. 

His friends argued against this, 
telling him, the variety was not, 
nor could it be made, popular; 
that other varieties of this popu- 
lar breed were ahead of it, and 
had so far outdistanced them in 
the race for public favor that to 
boom the Whites was a losing 
game. 

This would have discouraged 
many men, but it only whetted 
Mr,. Kellerstrass' ambition to show 
the world what could be done with 
a strictly good fowl regardless of 
its popularity. And when he did 
start, he started right. 

There ivas not a yard of Whites 
in America or England that con- 
tained real quality that was not 
drained of its cream before the 
breeders woke up to the fact that 
one of the wisest heads that ever 
tackled the poultry game ivas out 
for blood. 

He had the farm, he kneiv the 
breed, he believed in their future 
as a fancy breed, and he knew 
their ivorth as a commercial fowl. 

Before any of the Orpington 
breeders of note were aware of 
Mr. Kellerstrass' ideas, he had 
over 5,000 White Orpingtons on 
his farm and was producing more 
as fast as Cypher incubators and 
brooders would deliver the goods. 

He went into the big shows of 
America, starting in at Kansas 
City; from there to Jamestown 
Exposition, then St. Louis, Mis- 



souri, State Show; from there to 
New York, then back to Kansas 
City; from there to Chicago. 

In all of these shoivs, and in 
competition with the best in 
America, as well as the latest im- 
ported birds, he won more than 
90 per cent of all the prizes that 
were offered, and asked and re- 
ceived the highest prices for this 
now popular variety that ivere 
ever paid for them in this coun- 
try or Europe. In fact, he put a 
breed on the map and maintained 
them there. 

While at Kansas City in Jan- 
uary, the writer visited Mr. Kel- 
lerstrass' farm and with him 
looked over what we believe to be 
the best and largest collection of 
White Orpingtons owned by any 
one man in the ivorld — more than 
U,700 White Orpingtons on one 
farm, and there to count. Not 
chicks, but matured birds of the 
highest quality. Great big, lusty, 
deep-bodied birds, that have made 
the Orpington the most popular 
foivl ever introduced from the 
British Isle. 

In shape and color, there is but 
little fault to find with the Keller- 
strass birds. The illustrations 
run in the Inland Poultry Journal 
the past few months tell the tale. 

As to buildings and equipments, 
there are but feiv plants in Amer- 
ica better adapted to the breeding 
of fowls. The land was designed 
by nature for this purpose. {See 
illustrations of farm.) The 
houses were built for business and 
not for show. The open front 
house is the only one considered 
— in fact, this is the house 
adopted by nearly all the popular 
fanciers as well as market poul- 
try raisers. 

Both artificial and natural meth- 
ods are used to produce their shoiv 
birds. 

The incubator and brooder 
house, while not elaborate, is one 
of the best I have seen; in fact, 
the entire plant shoivs that good, 
sound judgment was used in the 



90 



THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



location of every yard and build- 
ing. 

While it is well known that Mr. 
Keller strass is a man of ivealth, 
it is not generally known that he 
and his son are the hardest ivork- 
ers on the farm. When Mr. Kel- 
lerstrass ivas first pointed out to 
me in the show room, with a pair 
of overalls and jumper on, busy 
cleaning out coops, I said, "My 
money backs that man as a win- 
ner in any undertaking that he is 
associated with." 

When a number of so-called ex- 
perts applied for a job as manager 
of his plant, he said: "I am look- 
ing for men to work; I can do 
all the managing that is necessary 
on my farm." 

Mr. Kellerstrass is today the 
world's headquarters for White 



Orpingtons. He has the best, as 
has been proven in the strongest 
shows in America. He knoivs 
quality and he knoivs its value. 
He is strictly reliable and is today 
doing more for Orpingtons than 
all the breeders in this country 
combined. 

We guarantee the man and his 
birds, and ive only ivish we had, a 
few more like him in the business. 
They are the kind of poidtrym,en 
that make it possible for the In- 
land and other high-class journals 
to give their readers the quality 
in poultry literature that is mak- 
ing the editors of all other live 
stock journals "sit up and take 
notice." 

THEO. HEWES, 

Editor Inland Poultry Journal. 




OF RAISING POULTRY. 91 



NOTICE 



If you will send four cents in stamps to pay postage to 
the Kellerstrass Farm, Kansas City, Mo., you will receive 
their illustrated Catalogue. It contains pictures of the high- 
est priced birds in the world; also, illustrations and pictures of 
their brood and nursery yards, buildings and runways of 
various descriptions; in fact, it gives you an illustration of 
the World's Greatest Poultry Plant, and shows you a good 
many general views of the farm and buildings. It also gives 
prices of the stock they have for sale. 



92 THE KELLERSTRASS WAY 



IMPORTANT 



Remember, that I am in the Poultry Business, and a person to make a 
success in the Poultry Business has to be out working with his chickens and 
look after them, and that is what I do. It keeps me busy, so don't expect me 
to personally answer your letter. I have tried to give you all the informa- 
tion I can in this book. I have received as high as six hundred letters in one 
day and the majority of them found their way into the waste-basket, because 
it is impossible for me to answer them personally. By the time I answer the 
letters of people who want to buy stock and eggs and tend to my chickens 
I have usually put in from sixteen to eighteen hours a day. So don't 
expect a personal answer to your letter unless it is of some importance. 

Yours truly, 

ERNEST KELLERSTRASS. 



OF RAISING POULTRY. 



93 



FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF READERS of this book / here- 
with give you the names and addresses of AMERICAN POULTRY ASSO- 
CIATION JUDGES. If you contemplate holding a show, by all means 
engage an AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION JUDGE, as it will 

give your show so much better standing, and whatever decision they make 
is official and can be relied upon. 

American Poultry Association Judges— (General) 



A. F. Kummer, Butler, Pa. 
Ira C. Keller, Prospect, Ohio. 
Charles V. Keeler, Winamac, Ind. 
Dr. S. T. Lea, Holly Hill, S. C. 

D. J. Lambert, Apponaug, R. I. 

S. B. Lane, Spiceland, Ind. 

J. W. Mulinix, Toledo, Ohio. 

S. B. Mills, Ames, la. 

J. H. Minshall, Brantford, Ont., Canada. 

F. J. Marshall, College Park, Ga. 

Ben S. Myers, Crawfordsville, Ind. 

B. W. Mosher, Johnstown, N. Y. 
J. S. Mertens, St. Louis, Mo. 

Benjamin H. McCracken, Martinsville, Ind. 
William McNeil, London, Ont. 
Charles McClave, New London, Ohio. 
O. L. McCord, Danville, 111. 
T. F. McGrew, Scranton, Pa. 
George H. Northrup, Paceville, N. Y. 
David A. Nichols, Shelton, Conn. 
Thomas Ward Norris, Blauvelt, N. Y. 
Richard Oke, London, Ont. 

D. M. Owens, Athens, Tenn. 
Calvin Ott, Prophetstown, 111. 
George Purdue, East Orange, N. J. 
A. F. Pierce, Winchester. N. H. 
Miller Purvis, Peotone, 111. 

H. J. Quilhot, Johnstown, N. Y. 

E. G. Roberts, Fort Atkinson, Wis. 

C. E. Rockenstyre, Albany, N. Y. 

T. Farrer Rackham, East Orange, N. J. 

E. W. Rankin, Topeka, Kan. 
Charles H. Rhodes, Topeka, Kan. 
W. S. Russell, Ottumwa, la. 
Thomas F. Rigg, Iowa Falls, la. 
J. N. Rusmisel, Stafford, Kan. 

Charles M. Smith, Copiague, Long Island, 

N. Y. 
H. B. Savage, Belton, Tex. 

F. C. Shepherd, Toledo. Ohio. 
Eugene Sites, Elyria, Ohio. 

W. J. Stanton, New York, N. Y. 

Halsted Scudder, Glen Head, Long Island, 

N. Y. 
Henry P. Schwab, Irondequoit, N. Y. 
Arthur O. Schilling, Rochester, N. Y. 
Thomas W. Southard, Kansas City, Mo. 
Fred E. Smith, Craig, Mo. 
Franklane L. Sewell, Buchanan, Mich. 
Daniel P. Shove, Fall River, Mass. 
F. H. Shellabarger, West Liberty, la. 
Frank L. Shaw. Indianapolis, Ind. 
A. B. Shaner, Lanark, 111. 
W. E. Stanfleld, Chicago, 111. 
U. J. Shanklin, Anamosa, la. 
Rowland Story, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Henry Trafford, Chenango Forks, N, Y. 
Adam Thompson, Amity, Mo. 
Frank W. Travis, Jackson. Mich. 
James Tucker, Concord, Mich. 
W. Theo. Wittman, Allentown, Pa. 
George W. Webb. Rochester, N. Y. 
Philander Williams, Randolph, Mass. 
J. C. Williams, Los Angeles, Cal. 
William M. Wise, Lansing, Mich. 
James W. Whitney, Long Beach, Cal. 
W. W. Zike. Morristown, Ind. 
F. B. Zimmer, Gloversville. N. Y. 
C. W. Zinner, Chicago, 111. 



J. J. Atherton, Emporia, Kan. 

J. E. Bennett, Toronto, Ont. 

S. Butterfield, Windsor, Ont. 

W. W. Browning, Ogden, Utah. 

T. L. Bayne, Knoxville, Tenn. 

M. M. Barger, Mt. Gilead, Ohio. 

William F. Brace, Victor, N. Y. 

George H. Burgott, Lawton Station, N. Y. 

W. W. Babcock, Bath, N. Y. 

J. Y. Bicknell, Buffalo, N. Y. 

E. C. Branch, Lee's Summit, Mo. 
H. S. Ball, Shrewsbury. Mass. 
George O. Brown, Baltimore, Md. 

O. Prescott Bennett, Washington, 111. 
Loring Brown, Smyrna, Ga. 
Henry Berrar, San Jose, Cal. 
Newton Cosh, Port Dover, Ont. 
Harry H. Collier, Tacoma, Wash. 
Charles E. Cram, Carey, Ohio. 
S. T. Campbell, Mansfield, Ohio. 

F. W. Corey, Ossinning, N. Y. 
Thomas M. Campbell, Darlington, Ind. 
J. F. Crangle, Simsbury, Conn. 
Wetherell H. Card, Manchester, Conn. 
L. N. Cobbledick, Oakland, Cal. 
Charles T. Corman, Carlisle, Pa. 
James Corfman, Leipsic, Ohio. 

H. H. Coburn, Memphis, Mich. 

H. B. Donovan, Toronto, Ont. 

Elmer Dixon, Oregon City, Ore. 

W. C. Denny, Rochester, N. Y. 

J. H. Drevenstadt, Red Bank, N. J. 

Maurice F. Delano, Vineyard Haven, Mass. 

John Dudley, Emporia, Kan. 

H. A. Emmel, Evans City, Pa. 

George Ewald, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

C. A. Emery, Carthage, Mo. 

W. C. Ellison, MinneaooKs, Minn. 

0. J. Easton, Whiting, la. 
James J. Elliott, Onawa, Ta. 

M. S. Fite, Oklahoma City, Okla. 
Phil Feil, Canal Dover, Ohio. 
Thomas S. Falkner, Tiffin, Ohio. 

1. K. Felch, Natick, Mass. 
U. R. Fishel, Hope, Ind. 

Prof. W. R. Graham, Guelph, Canada. 

J. E. Gault, Chippewa Lake, Ohio. 

C. S. Greene, New Brighton, N. Y. 

Frank W. Gaylor, White Plains, N. Y. 

M. S. Gardner, Auburn, N. Y. 

W. R. Graves, Southboro, Mass. 

O. P. Greer, Bourbon, Ind. 

Reese V. Hicks, Madisonville, Tenn. 

F. W. Hitchcock, Oklahoma City, Okla. 

G. R. Haswell, Circleville. Ohio. 

B. J. Hill, East Akron, Ohio. 

C. E. Howell, Elmira, N. Y. 
George D. Holden, Owatonna, Minn. 

D. E. Hale, Wayzata, Minn. 

A. C. Hawkins, Lancaster, Mass. 
Theodore Hewes, Indianapolis, Ind. 
George A. Heyl, Washington, 111. 
Frank Heck, Chicago, 111. 
D. T. Heimlich, Jacksonville, 111. 
Earl Hemenway, South Haven, Mich. 
John D. Jaquins, Watervliet, N. Y. 
J. S. Jeffrey, West Raleigh, N. C. 
R. E. Jones, Paducah, Ky. 
W. H. Jones, McKittrick, Cal. 



Leading Poultry Journals 

For the convenience of readers of this book I give herewith a list of 
the leading poultry journals published in America, with their addresses. 

Number 

of 
Pages. 

American Poultry Advocate. Syracuse, N. Y 44 to 88 

American Poultry Journal. Chicago, 111 48 to 166 

American Poultry World, Buffalo, N. Y 76 to 142 

Canadian Poultry Review, Toronto, Ont 48 to 72 

Commercial Poultry, Marseilles, 111 36 to 64 

Fanciers' Monthly, San Jose, Cal 32 to 48 

Farm Poultry, Boston, Mass 16 to 40 

Feather, The, Washington, D. C 20 to 48 

Game Fanciers' Journal, Battle Creek, Mich 16 to 20 

Industrious Hen, Knoxville, Tenn 40 to 80 

Inland Poultry Journal, Indianapolis, Ind 48 to 100 

Live Stock Tribune, Los Angeles, Cal 40 to 60 

Northwest Poultryman, Salem, Ore 32 to 74 

Pacific Fancier, Los Angeles, Cal 32 to 64 

Pacific Poultryman, Seattle, Wash 28 to 36 

Petaluma Poultry Journal, Petaluma, Cal 24 to 36 

Poultry. Peotone, 111 32 to 40 

Poultry Culture, Topeka, Kans 32 to 52 

Poultry Gazette. Lincoln, Neb 32 to 74 

Poultry Gazette, Clay Center. Neb 32 to 74 

Poultry Herald, St. Paul, Minn 36 to 60 

Poultry Husbandry, Waterville, N. Y 16 to 32 

Poultry Item, Sellersville, Pa 48 to 142 

Poultry Keeper, Quincy, 111 32 to 72 

Poultry Tribune, Mount Morris. Ill 40 to 100 

Poultry Success, Springfield, Ohio 76 to 164 

Reliable Poultry Journal, Quincy, 111 76 to 164 

Southern Fancier, Atlanta. Ga 44 to 60 

Southern Poultryman, Dallas, Texas . . . . 36 to 44 

Southern Poultry Journal, Dallas, Texas 40 to 68 

Southern Poultry Magazine, Nashville. Tenn 16 to 32 

Successful Poultry Journal, Chicago, 111 36 to<-120 

Western Poultry Journal, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 32 to 96 

Western Poultry World, Denver, Colo. 32 to 40 



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